Six Victims- Blog Tour

 

Author: Mark  Simmons
Publisher: Poe Boy Publishing
Publishing Date: 12th October 2025 

Many thanks to the publishing team and Hygge book tours for my digital copy and spot on the tour

Blurb 

In this gripping second instalment of the DI Bambridge series, Detective Inspector Bambridge and Detective Constable Lawrence face a chilling new case: six innocent lives snuffed out in a brutal cold-blooded murdering spree. Who were these victims? Why were they targeted? And who is the elusive killer behind it all?

Haunted by a past case, Bambridge is driven by a need for redemption, determined to capture the one criminal who slipped through his fingers. Meanwhile, Lawrence battles her own demons, returning from desk duty with the scars of trauma threatening to unravel her. As personal struggles collide with professional duty, the duo must navigate their own flaws and a relentless killer to uncover the truth.

Dark, addictive, and brimming with psychological depth, Six Victims pulls readers into a twisted web of crime, motive, and justice. Will Bambridge and Lawrence rise above their pasts to bring a murderer to justice—or become the next victims of their own failures?

My Thoughts 

This is book two in the series, and although I haven’t read the first book.  I was pleasantly surprised by how accessible it was. The author does an admirable job reintroducing the returning characters in a way that feels natural—even for a newcomer. Their descriptions are vivid, and the glimpses into who they used to be versus who they are now give a strong sense of continuity without overwhelming the reader with backstory. I never felt completely lost, which is impressive for a sequel.

There are, however, several references to the events of book one, especially because this is a very character-driven story. At times I sensed I was missing some emotional weight or significance, particularly when past crimes or unresolved trauma were mentioned. A few characters are clearly still struggling to heal from what happened previously. While I could follow the main threads, it did make me curious about what I missed—and I think reading the first book would help deepen the experience and fill in those emotional gaps.

Still, watching these characters try to move forward, despite what they’re carrying, was one of the most engaging parts of the story. Their personal struggles add dimension to the investigation, and it was interesting to see how they balanced their inner turmoil with the demands of a new case. As the body count rises, the urgency increases, and the officers are forced to put some of their emotions aside in order to stay focused and find the killer. This tension gives the book a strong driving force and makes their determination to seek justice feel even more powerful.

The plot itself kept me fully invested. I found myself constantly questioning motives, second-guessing alibis, and trying to work out who could be trusted. The mystery unfolds at a steady pace, with enough twists to keep you alert without feeling overly complicated.

Overall, the atmosphere throughout the book is tense, gripping, and consistently immersive. The characters—flawed, determined, and still healing—kept me engaged from beginning to end. Even without reading book one, I enjoyed this story, and it definitely made me want to go back and experience the beginning of their journey.