Saturday Requiem by Nicci French **Review Revisited One Year On**

A year ago today the sixth book in the Frieda Klein series was published. So I thought I would share my review again today especially as on July 13th it’s publication day for the final “day of the week” Sunday Morning Coming Down. I’m stupidly excited for, what I assume, is the final book in the series but also rather sad as it has been a favourite of mine over the years since I read Blue Monday back in 2011. I will bring you my review of Sunday Morning Coming Down: A Frieda Klein Novel (7)soon but until then let me refresh your memory about the previous instalment Saturday Requiem.

About this book…

Thirteen years ago eighteen year old Hannah Dochertywas arrested for the brutal murder of her family. It was an open and shut case and Hannah’s been incarcerated in a secure hospital ever since.

When psychotherapist Frieda Klein is asked to meet Hannah and give her assessment of her she reluctantly agrees. What she finds horrifies her. Hannah has become a tragic figure, old before her time. And Frieda is haunted by the thought that Hannah might be as much of a victim as her family; that something wasn’t right all those years ago.

And as Hannah’s case takes hold of her, Frieda soon begins to realise that she’s up against someone who’ll go to any lengths to protect themselves . . 

Saturday Requiem is the sixth addictive and intriguing novel in the Frieda Klein series by the bestselling author Nicci French.

My review…

This is one series that I really look forward to reading. It started back in 2011 with the brilliant Blue Monday (I bought the hardback copy to take on holiday with me as I am always desperate to get my hands on a new Nicci French!) Blue Monday and Tuesday’s Gone have been my favourites so far but as we head into “the weekend” Saturday Requiem has really got my pulse racing again!

Psychotherapist Frieda Klein is asked to look into a case that may have an unsafe conviction. She goes to visit Hannah Docherty who was sentenced 13 years ago for murdering her mother, brother and stepfather. As usual once Frieda gets hold of an idea, she doesn’t give up even though her own personal demons are never too far away….literally!

What I love about this series is the way the lead character has maintained her perseverance and personality throughout. She comes across as a bit of a closed book at times, and isn’t a particularly warm and friendly woman but she values those people who are always there for her, and there’s quite a number of them! There isn’t much of Karlsson this time though as he is laid up with a broken leg but Josef still has her back and Jack, unable to decide what path to take next, is helping Frieda with her investigation.

As this is an author that is actually two people (the authors Nicci Gerrard and Sean French) they seem to manage that unpredictable twist better than most, I’m assuming that two heads are better than one when it comes to pulling the wool over our eyes! I felt like Frieda as I was reading as she says throughout that something is just niggling away at the corner of her mind, that the clues are there but we just can’t put our finger on what’s not right!

Dean Reeves, who is Frieda’s nemesis following her through these books like a ghostly presence in the background, is again playing mind games with Frieda and the climax to Saturday Requiem was actually a huge shock for me! Although the main case is resolved here, it is still left on a little bit of a cliffhanger ready for the next book. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone as each concerns a different crime but you will get much more out of this if you have the background details of Frieda and her friends and family from the start.

This was an enjoyable read that I couldn’t put down at times-especially reading the scenes that were interspersed throughout from the hospital inmates. There was such a feeling of malice that was building up to something we were unable to prevent that I wanted to read with my fingers over my eyes! A great addition to one of my favourite series.

I received a copy of this book via netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

Saturday Requiem: A Frieda Klein Novel (6) (Frieda Klein Series) was published on 30th June 2016 and is available to buy here from Amazon UK