Started reading: July 18th 2017
Finished the book: July 23rd 2017
Pages: 368
Genres: Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Published: March 10th 2016
Source: Received from a friend
Goodreads score: 4.23
My score:
In the darkest corners of the city, there is a thriving nightlife where people can let loose and cross the lines of work and play, of pleasure and pain. But now that sanctuary has been breached. A killer has struck and a man is dead.
In a world where disguises and discretion are the norm, one admission could unravel a life. No one wants to come forward to say what they saw or what they know—including the woman heading the investigation: Detective Helen Grace.
Helen knew the victim. And the victim knew her—better than anyone else. And when the murderer strikes again, Helen must decide how many more lines she’s willing to cross to bring in a devious and elusive serial killer...
My thoughts
This series definitely gets better with the books to come. This book is so different from the other books, especially the ending... Won't spoil anything, but I highly recommend reading this series! I also have to mention that BDSM is involved in this book, so you know what you're getting into. Also; DON'T read the synopsis for book 6, totally contains spoilers.
Pros
- Genius plot: This was AWESOME. Can't describe it any other way. The plot is the best and I love the way this books ends. A lot of authors would probably be scared to "go there" but M.J. Arlidge totally does it and is not scared to put his main character through a lot of stress and hardship.
- Need to read previous books: People read series to follow up on the characters they start to love. This series needs you to read the books that came before, because events from the past are very important. I like the way an author "rewards" you for reading the previous books by involving important people and events from the past.
- Helen Grace: This book shows a more human Helen Grace. It felt like she was a superstar in the previous books and nothing could harm her, but in this book she goes through a tough time. I loved to experience her other, more vulnerable side. I didn't always think she made the right decisions, which made her even more human.
- I need the next book: THIS ENDING. One of the best endings ever. So sad that I read the synopsis of the sixth book, before ending this one. I already knew how it was gonna end, but it gave me goosebumps anyway. Such a clever plot. You're like: "It's not gonna end that way, right? It's gonna be okay, right?" And then... WHAT HAPPENED THERE?! The final sentence, so good, again. GIVE ME THE NEXT BOOOKK!
Cons
Only the fact that I have to wait for the next book until November...
Overall
This is a great series that makes you care for Helen Grace, her friends and her co-workers. This book is very different from the other books in this series, which makes it refreshing to keep reading this series. The endings in these books are some of the best that I've seen. The fourth book had a great ending, but this one is even better. I crave those books that destroy you in the end...
Other opinions about this book
"Helen, who bears both physical and emotional scars, emerges as one of crime fiction's most compelling detectives."
- Publishers Weekly
"Expertly pulled off. It has a devious premise. DI Helen Grace is fiendishly awesome. It's scary as all hell. And it has a full cast of realistically drawn, interesting characters that make the thing read like a bullet."
- Will Lavender
"A fast-paced, twisting police procedural and thriller that's sure to become another bestseller."
- Huffington Post
Did you read anything from this series? Let me know!
