This is the first book in a mystery series, introducing us to Helen Grace, a detective inspector in England. I love mysteries, and detective stories and thrillers. I don't know why I don't read them more often. Helen is a strong, independent, authoritative female detective. She also has baggage, which no one in her current life knows about - or would even suspect. The book is a page-turner and a quick read. Helen can be quick to judge, and some of her past actions have a significant impact on the people in her life at the time. But she is a strong character, especially for someone who had a troubling personal life.
The serial killer most definitely had a well-thought-out and executed plan. Excruciatingly so. It was painful to read about her victims dying of hunger and thirst, and in Mark's case, a raging infection. Each abducted "couple" reacted differently to the proposition put in front of them: kill the other person and you go free. Both lives are ruined regardless. I DO wonder how she knew when one person died though. It's not like she had cameras stationed inside all of the various abandoned sites. It's not like she could open a door and check on them.
In my mind, I thought that Helen and Mark would be a couple - or at least a "non-couple" or a secret couple - in the books to follow. I thought they could help each other fight their individual demons. I have to say that I was not happy with how their relationship ended! I am happy that Helen found her serial killer, but I was sad about Mark. Even though the killer did despicable things to people, I was also sad about her life as well. She spent a long time in prison for trying to protect her sister - and then was pretty much shut out of her sister's life. Why was a child sentenced to 25 years in prison anyway? Maybe things are different in England than America when it comes to charging children with murder...? Maybe it was because she murdered two people instead of just the one harming her. I don't know, but she certainly had some awful things happen to her.
I want to read the next book in the series now. I am curious about which characters from this book will be carried over to the next.
Wendy's Rating: ****
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