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To Hunt a Killer

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About this listen

*Winner of Best New True Crime Author, CrimeCon UK True Crime Awards 2023*

*Shortlisted for the ALCS Gold Dagger award for non-fiction, Crime Writers’ Association Awards 2023*

The gripping true story of how Detective Superintendent Julie Mackay brought Melanie Road’s murderer to justice.

BATH, 1984

Jean Road, a 49-year-old mother of three, awakens to news that her daughter Melanie has been murdered in a nearby street as she walked home from a club in the early hours.

Britain’s biggest manhunt begins. A trail of blood is found leading away from the scene. It’s a rare blood type. But despite a year-long inquiry and 94 arrests, the case is wound down. No one is charged with Melanie’s murder.

AVON & SOMERSET POLICE HQ, 2009

Detective Sergeant Julie Mackay, a 41-year-old single mother of three who has been overlooked for promotion for years, transfers to the Cold Case Unit. She unearths a file from the original inquiry and becomes hooked by the details: the rare blood type, Bath on a summer’s night, the investigative wrong turns … She takes on the case, and with the help of Melanie’s inspirational mother works tirelessly to rebuild it.

This is the true story of how she did it.

Crime Grief & Loss Murder Personal Development Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Social Sciences True Crime Inspiring Exciting Thought-Provoking Heartfelt Detective Cold Case Forensics

Critic reviews

‘A fascinating insight into not only the volume of detective work required to put a killer behind bars, but also the eviscerating impact of murder on a family’ Daily Mail

All stars
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I listened to this book in less than a four days. I already knew the details to to hear Julie’s battles intermingled was a real eye opener. Knower her personally makes me respect and love her even more than when I worked for her.

Gripping and insightful

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I didn’t know about the case, and as such, it unfolded like an excellent mystery as the cold case investigation team worked the case for years.

Bar a couple of dodgy accents, truly superb narration from Lucy Scott. One of the best I’ve heard.

Only downside of the book is the personal-life sagas and talk of the hardship of looking after horses at 5am, which are perhaps interesting in terms of the challenges the author faced as a female detective with a family and unsupportive partner. At times it was interesting, but there was too much of it, and it mostly got in the way and slowed the unfolding of the fascinating investigation. It would have been better as a book of its own.

However, it felt like maybe only 20% of the book, and the rest is so riveting that I won’t deduct any stars.

Superb true crime book, top-class narration

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I really enjoyed listening to this. A good insight into how much dedication is put into these investigations.

Excellent read

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Such a book of brave women , the bad language had been a shock , it worked in the audio book

Dedication

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A very sad true story of the determination and resilience of Julie Mackay and her team to solve the cold case. Very detailed and an excellent narrator. Would definitely recommend to anyone who likes true crime.

Excellent

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