March 30, 2015
British author Arlidge’s engrossing first novel, a crime thriller, introduces Det. Insp. Helen Grace of the Hampshire police. When a fiend abducts a young woman and her boyfriend and torments them in an ingeniously cruel way that leads to the death of one of them, Helen investigates, but before she can make any headway there is a second similar case, then a third. Helen believes there’s a connection among the victims, but the only link she can see is that they were all acquaintances of hers. Helen is herself a severely damaged woman. Professional stress and a guilty family secret make her withdrawn and defensive in her personal life; her main relief comes from employing a professional dominator to whip her. Plot complications include Helen’s detection of a mole within the department and her complex relationship with an otherwise talented subordinate who’s sinking into debilitating alcoholism. Readers will look forward to seeing more of this strong, intelligent, and courageous lead. Agent: Hellie Ogden, Janklow Nesbit.
Starred review from June 15, 2015
In this best-selling British thriller, DI Helen Grace is on the track of an anomaly--a female serial killer. However, this killer doesn't pull the trigger herself. Instead, she sets up each murder so that two people are abducted and left with a choice: destroy the other prisoner or die slowly of thirst and hunger. Each crime is meticulously planned, and Grace, haunted by her own demons, knows she has to find the common thread among the victims to solve the case. Meanwhile, someone within her department is putting the investigation at risk through leaks to the press, and she must uncover the culprit before her work is thoroughly compromised. VERDICT Fast-paced, terrifying, and impossible to put down, this gripping debut stars a fierce protagonist in Grace. Readers will look forward to the next book in this series!--Lisa O'Hara, Univ. of Manitoba Libs., Winnipeg
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