by MJ Arlidge (Penguin Books)
I often enjoy a good chuckle at the expense of book reviewers, wondering if I sound as much of a sycophant, or if I’m perhaps too scant with my praise. After all, where are all the novels I’ve written?
But then Woman and Home describes this as “A macabre, theatrical thriller that gripped me with every twist”, and I’m inclined to think that the writer needs to get out more.
From that summation, it sounds like you’d be too scared to walk back to your bed after turning off the light switch on this novel. But this is no Stephen King.
When a certain Will Lavender calls the central character, Detective Inspector Helen Grace, “fiendishly awesome”, I want to ask him if his English teacher ever scolded him for using the word outside of Biblical terms, as in, “our God inspires awe”.
I’d opt for a more low-key description – like self-effacing or unaffected.
I must agree with Lavender that the characters are “realistically drawn” and “make the thing read like a bullet”.
About a year ago, when we could still afford DStv, I was a big fan of the gritty, matter of fact BBC detective shows like Silent Witness and the more amusing New Tricks and Midsomer Murders.
Through the medium of this book, I was transported right back to the couch and found myself, engrossed in what felt like one of those shows.
There may have been a couple of typos in the book, but they did not detract too much from my enjoyment of an “episode” from a writer I subsequently discovered is actually a producer of prime-time crime serials.
I read the book in one sitting and was absorbed all the way through. Pretty decent stuff overall.