This has been my least favorite of the Jack Caffery series so far. First off, after leaving on a somewhat cliffhanger last book, we jump ahead four years. An odd choice to me. Then this novel was a little too coincidental. Too many things lined up too easily to be believed. I also thought Hayder's imagery in the final conflict was hard to follow/picture. The book still contained Caffery and his self-destructive self. I enjoyed the new character of Flea but her back story was a bit much. Overall, a decent crime book with too many puzzle pieces being corner pieces.

The addition of Flea and The Walking Man added something to the storyline. I kind of miss Rebecca, though, and am still waiting to see if Ewan is ever found.

I really like Mo's books, and can't wait to read more.. I picked up Poppet on a whim and had to read the rest.. I loved that book, and went to the first in the series.. Loved that one, the 2nd was out at the library so grabbed this one.. This one was not as good as the others, but still good.. I had the ending figured out quicker than her others, if I did at all.. But she is still one of the best crime thriller authors out there!!!

Mo Hayder does know how to write a good thriller. They can be quite dark and delve into the depressing side of humanity. But in an addictive way, even if I did find some of the references in here a bit distressing. I've not been reading these in order, and I didn't find it a problem (interesting to see nods to both Skin, and Gone, which both come after this and I've already read) but I do kind of wish I'd read the series more in order, at least from this book onwards, as I think this is the point where Flea comes into the series. She is a petite underwater search diver, and I find her far more interesting than Cafferty, who is supposed to be the lead figure in this series.

Set in Bristol, a hand is spotted in the harbour. Everyone assumes it's a body part knocked off a rotting suicide corpse somewhere, but when the hand is recovered, they realise it's a lot fresher. And worse still, that the owner was probably still alive when the hand was removed. Then the other hand turns up...

We're delving in to rituals from South Africa, with muti (magical offerings, often human parts), tokoloshe (witches familiars/devils) and a whole bundle of superstitions and black magic. The ex-pats living in the area seem to be frightened of a devil stalking them, and are getting involved in dark rituals to protect themselves. Whether its all true or someone is conning them and making a whole bundle of cash remains to be seen.

I really enjoyed the first 2 books in the Caffrey series. I was completely underwhelmed by Ritual. It started off interestingly enough but then became so weighed down by the story and emotional abyss of its characters, it just became plodding. I will read the following book, Skin, but if that doesn't improve on the series I'm going to have to say farewell. I don't mind characters mired in their own backstory, but it didn't add anything to the narrative.

Sadly not a patch on the previous two and I was glad to get to the end. Jack has turned into something boring and is still harping on about the past and Flea is an obnoxious character (yes, with her own baggage). Think more was spent on the baggage of both characters than the actual storyline. Definition a drop in standards and hopefully it will pick up again.