As you’ve probably been able to tell, I don’t stick to one genre of books. I read whatever strikes me (or whatever is up next on my NetGalley list). As a result, I sometimes end up with a book that is part of a series. I usually don’t like to read these for two reasons: 1) it can feel like reading the end of something to know what happens before reading the rest or 2) there’s so much detail from the previous events, it’s not worth going back and reading the others. I get happy when I find a series that doesn’t do either. This is one of those. However, don’t be me: find the first one and start from the beginning. Below is my Goodreads review.
9/18/2018
Perfect Girls by Alison James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
This was a cracking good crime thriller! The third in the Detective Rachel Prince series, it’s the first one I’ve read, and I will definitely be going back to read the first two. Det. Prince is a flawed heroine; she apparently has a tendency to think romantically about people she works with (according to references to previous events), tends to be obsessive, and seems off-balance in some of her familial relationships. All of this makes her more human, and not the usual “superhero cop” who solves a case easily. The story unfolds in “real time,” with the actions of Rachel and co-workers interspersed with brief perspectives from the perpetrator of the crimes. This lends authenticity to the story, and the glimpses of the criminal mind slowly draw the reader deeper into the investigation. The author has researched well; the description of travel and locations are accurate and vivid. The time constraint that Rachel is working under compels the reader to keep up with Rachel’s sense of urgency. The crimes at the heart of the story are timely, especially in the age of social media saturation. Not really a spoiler, but you probably won’t look at a certain growing trend in travel the same way ever again. A great read, and I look forward to adding this series to my “follow” lists. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and the author for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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