What do you think?
Craig Hunter Police Thriller #1.1
Cuddly Toy
DC Craig Hunter is back in plainclothes, working for Police Scotland’s Sexual Offences Unit, and eager to prove his worth.
First day, first case. Bringing Edinburgh serial rapist Neil Oxton in for questioning ahead of charging, after he harassed a victim overnight. Not so easy, when Oxton assaults Hunter’s partner, in both senses, and runs.
Hunter and DS Chantal Jain have to hunt across a strange side of town for Oxton before their boss, DI Sharon McNeill finds out.
And before Oxton silences any of his victims.
This book is exclusive to the Ed James Readers Club.
First day, first case. Bringing Edinburgh serial rapist Neil Oxton in for questioning ahead of charging, after he harassed a victim overnight. Not so easy, when Oxton assaults Hunter’s partner, in both senses, and runs.
Hunter and DS Chantal Jain have to hunt across a strange side of town for Oxton before their boss, DI Sharon McNeill finds out.
And before Oxton silences any of his victims.
This book is exclusive to the Ed James Readers Club.
ebook
Published January 1, 2022
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 15, 2023
January is a time to take stock of your reading habits and catch up with books and authors you intended to read.
Short stories and novellas are a quicker way to try out authors and in titles that bridge within series a means to be introduced to characters and new situations.
An an author like Ed James, who is so proficient with many different leading characters and niche stories across many sun-genres within police thrillers - it becomes a case of spoilt for choice and where to start?
Joining a writer’s web site solves a couple of problems straight away. You make sense of their various titles and different series, and occasionally “free” ebooks, these prequels and links between the novels are offered to you.
Cuddly Toy is a case in point by Ed James offered free after joining the author’s newsletter. This is a Craig Hunter short. Within chronology of that series it could be viewed as 1.1 following on from “book 1” The Missing and linking to the next title The Hunted with an excerpt to whet the appetite and tie you into the series.
Now the book can be downloaded without any fuss or commitment. I am not obliged to give a review or even read it at all. So my completion of this short book was my own choice and the review my own thoughts.
I should say that I like to read a series in strict chronological order so couldn’t image reading The Hunted say before The Missing. However, Cuddly Toy has scope to appease my reading OCD nature. “Author’s Note. This story takes place just after The Missing, on Craigs first day in the Police Scotland Sexual Offences Unit”
That’ll do for me Ed, a new start for Craig and me.
REVIEW:
Great writing and interactions between characters and suspects, victims and suspects. Feels real in terms of place and policing.
I love books that have defined locations I feel the author is taking us through the streets in sights and smells like we are walking in their footsteps rather than following a finger on Google Map. This sense of place is matched with the individuals that we meet. I loved Craig from the off as he is an experienced officer but this posting is very much another chance; a sideways move only in the sense that his career had stalled by previous actions. A complicated man we both understand and have so much more to learn about. Hired perhaps as muscle but in his own mind a much more capable officer. So he must quickly get up to speed on the trail of a serial rapist where the DNA evidence is compelling but no match on file to nail the perpetrator. Seemingly they have someone for it but insufficient evidence to make an arrest and prove the DNA is his.
So as a reader we start Craig’s journey similarly learning about the complexity of the Sexual Offences Unit so different in their approach. Craig thinks he a proven detective and interviewer of suspects but he is learning almost as a rookie. He will make mistakes and face set backs. Yet already you feel he will win through and demonstrate his reasoning and intuition are equally effective as his physical presence and brawn.
You just worry about his mental health.
Loved it; more books to read in the new year as Ed James is an author now established in my mind to get into more in 2023.
Short stories and novellas are a quicker way to try out authors and in titles that bridge within series a means to be introduced to characters and new situations.
An an author like Ed James, who is so proficient with many different leading characters and niche stories across many sun-genres within police thrillers - it becomes a case of spoilt for choice and where to start?
Joining a writer’s web site solves a couple of problems straight away. You make sense of their various titles and different series, and occasionally “free” ebooks, these prequels and links between the novels are offered to you.
Cuddly Toy is a case in point by Ed James offered free after joining the author’s newsletter. This is a Craig Hunter short. Within chronology of that series it could be viewed as 1.1 following on from “book 1” The Missing and linking to the next title The Hunted with an excerpt to whet the appetite and tie you into the series.
Now the book can be downloaded without any fuss or commitment. I am not obliged to give a review or even read it at all. So my completion of this short book was my own choice and the review my own thoughts.
I should say that I like to read a series in strict chronological order so couldn’t image reading The Hunted say before The Missing. However, Cuddly Toy has scope to appease my reading OCD nature. “Author’s Note. This story takes place just after The Missing, on Craigs first day in the Police Scotland Sexual Offences Unit”
That’ll do for me Ed, a new start for Craig and me.
REVIEW:
Great writing and interactions between characters and suspects, victims and suspects. Feels real in terms of place and policing.
I love books that have defined locations I feel the author is taking us through the streets in sights and smells like we are walking in their footsteps rather than following a finger on Google Map. This sense of place is matched with the individuals that we meet. I loved Craig from the off as he is an experienced officer but this posting is very much another chance; a sideways move only in the sense that his career had stalled by previous actions. A complicated man we both understand and have so much more to learn about. Hired perhaps as muscle but in his own mind a much more capable officer. So he must quickly get up to speed on the trail of a serial rapist where the DNA evidence is compelling but no match on file to nail the perpetrator. Seemingly they have someone for it but insufficient evidence to make an arrest and prove the DNA is his.
So as a reader we start Craig’s journey similarly learning about the complexity of the Sexual Offences Unit so different in their approach. Craig thinks he a proven detective and interviewer of suspects but he is learning almost as a rookie. He will make mistakes and face set backs. Yet already you feel he will win through and demonstrate his reasoning and intuition are equally effective as his physical presence and brawn.
You just worry about his mental health.
Loved it; more books to read in the new year as Ed James is an author now established in my mind to get into more in 2023.
July 24, 2022
I enjoyed this book. Craig has returned to the sexual offences unit and his boss is his partner. Craig is anxious to establish a solid place in the team. Craig's immediate boss is Chantal who is also his partner. The book brings the reader into the issues between Craig and Chantal and the irritations caused by the difference in their status versus their personal relationship. Craig does defer to Chantal but also goes off-piste and thinks "out of the box" and takes chances. However, he is a bit clumsy in his actions and Chantal has to come to his aid at times. I became annoyed that Craig is not more assertive but he is in a difficult position. He is somewhat undervalued by their senior officer. Chantal is caught in the middle, her difficult position could have been developed a little more.
The case they are working on has twists and turns particularly in the final stages.
In the real world, I doubt if Chantal and Craig would be stationed together in their current roles. I'm pretty sure they would be paired up with other officers.
To sum up, Cuddly Toy has two main threads, the case and the characters alongside the relationship/working relationship of Craig and Chantal. We do not read anything of Craig and Chantal at home so our only view of them is while they are at work.
The case they are working on has twists and turns particularly in the final stages.
In the real world, I doubt if Chantal and Craig would be stationed together in their current roles. I'm pretty sure they would be paired up with other officers.
To sum up, Cuddly Toy has two main threads, the case and the characters alongside the relationship/working relationship of Craig and Chantal. We do not read anything of Craig and Chantal at home so our only view of them is while they are at work.
July 21, 2022
This is a well done episode in Ed James world of detectives that doesn't require any prior familiarity with his work. I usually shy away from short fiction as it often feels as though it really isn't finished. Not so with Cuddly Toy. It is very satisfying and well balanced.
September 7, 2022
Ed James is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors.
Cuddly Toy is a great short read with familiar characters, the storyline is gripping and it flows very well. I would definitely recommend this book.
Cuddly Toy is a great short read with familiar characters, the storyline is gripping and it flows very well. I would definitely recommend this book.
June 9, 2024
Dc Craig Hunter is in his first day with the Sexual Offences Police Unit, and it doesn’t start well when he lets a suspect escape. Can it get worse, yes it can.
This is a good short story, well written and with a few unexpected twists along the way.
This is a good short story, well written and with a few unexpected twists along the way.
July 14, 2022
Enjoyed this short read especially when you already know the characters.
Quick and enjoyable lunch time read.
Quick and enjoyable lunch time read.
May 9, 2023
It is DC Craig Hunter first day inScotland’s Sexual Offences Unit, where he and the team need to determine who is the rapist out of two suspects.
An entertaining modern mystery
An entertaining modern mystery
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews