Writers have been stepping up their games, making me one happy reader. Why?
Let me explain.
I’ve often talked about how the first book in a series can be a grabber, and that’s great!
The question (for me) is always the same though: once the scene is set (so to speak), can an author maintain the interest into a second book, especially when they don’t need to spend as much time on introducing characters?
This is at least the fourth book I’ve read in the past week or so that is second in a series. And, as with the others, the answer to the above question is a resounding “yes!”
Now, I know some of you may say, “but the author has written other series, so it’s really not the same thing as a potential Sophomore Slump.” I disagree, because I look at each series as a new opportunity, and think it would be quite easy to slough off – even if there were successful past series.
I thoroughly enjoyed this author’s Knock Knock. It had a winning combination of compelling characters, unique perspectives, and page-turning action. All continue in Who’s Next.
I particularly like how the author gives us periodic insights into the killer’s mind, dropping hints about motivation. The clues are there, but only the reader is privy to them directly from the killer…the team has to find them another way. This makes it different from books that only allow readers to see the clues that the investigators find. It’s a welcome addition.
The two protagonists, Lockhart and Green, are still grappling with their past baggage (his missing wife, her experiences from the last book) while also trying to define their relationship. Therapist/patient? Co-workers/friends? Something more? I like how they’re both real people with real issues.
The case itself is another good one. The initial murder is treated as a standalone homicide, and only the reader knows that there is more to come. I love this “I know something you don’t know” feeling that I get over the investigators. Especially as the bodies start appearing and the team has to connect the dots to figure out what they all have in common
Additionally, one of the team is working on a parallel investigation of a serial rapist. Are the two cases related? Is there some connection that they keep missing? (You know you have to read it to find out).
Suffice to say that in spite of having “inside info” from the killer, you won’t see this one coming. While this can certainly be standalone, I definitely recommend starting with the first book, if just to get background on the Lockhart and Green. It will make this one even more enjoyable than it already is.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/chris_merritt
Website: www.cjmerritt.co.uk
Author Bio:
Chris Merritt is a British author whose crime thrillers combine psychology, suspense, and characters you care about.
All his novels are set in London, where he lives. He began writing fiction in 2014, after previous careers as a diplomat, based in Iraq and Jerusalem, and later as a psychologist working with victims and perpetrators of crime. He specialised in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which sparked his interest in telling stories about how people cope when faced with extreme adversity.
Now he spends most of his time writing novels and drinking coffee while *thinking* about writing novels. When he’s not writing, he loves climbing and playing basketball.
