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seachell1's review against another edition
2.0
Thank you to Flatiron Books and Netgalley for an ARC for my honest opinion.
I had a hard time liking Nikki, the main character of this book. I feel like she is a caricature of what a bad A woman should look like. She clearly has some anger issues and everyone around her seems ok with that. I was most interested in her bookstore and the bookstore cat.
The storyline took some time to develop but did pick up and get exciting in the last couple characters.
Overall my dislike for stereotypical characters made me not enjoy this too much and if this turns into a series I probably won't continue with it.
I had a hard time liking Nikki, the main character of this book. I feel like she is a caricature of what a bad A woman should look like. She clearly has some anger issues and everyone around her seems ok with that. I was most interested in her bookstore and the bookstore cat.
The storyline took some time to develop but did pick up and get exciting in the last couple characters.
Overall my dislike for stereotypical characters made me not enjoy this too much and if this turns into a series I probably won't continue with it.
smitchy's review
5.0
Fast paced action and lots of intrigue in this new crime (what I hope will be a series) book. Nikki Griffin has issues from her past. She seen what violent men can do and she is determined to help other women end troubled relationships - she specialises in speaking to violent men in a language they will have no trouble understanding...
When not acting as a Private Investigator, Nikki's love of literature has lead her into owning a second hand book store complete with resident cat, Bartleby.
When approached by a tech CEO to investigate one of his employees, Nikki soon realises something is very wrong with the whole situation but it's too late one person is dead and Nikki will be too unless she thinks fast and acts quicker!
If you love action-packed adventure and suspense along the lines of Lee Child's Jack Reacher and dark heroines like Lisbeth Salander (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) Nikki Griffin is the hero you have been waiting for!
When not acting as a Private Investigator, Nikki's love of literature has lead her into owning a second hand book store complete with resident cat, Bartleby.
When approached by a tech CEO to investigate one of his employees, Nikki soon realises something is very wrong with the whole situation but it's too late one person is dead and Nikki will be too unless she thinks fast and acts quicker!
If you love action-packed adventure and suspense along the lines of Lee Child's Jack Reacher and dark heroines like Lisbeth Salander (Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) Nikki Griffin is the hero you have been waiting for!
sim_96's review
1.0
This book had a lot of promise, a bad-ass lead, that takes no crap from no one and does what she wants? Sure, sign me up.
However, the execution of this book left me mostly bored.
Nikki Griffin, a bookstore owner by day and a vigilante by night. She kicks ass and takes names. Sure, she can fight, sure she knows how to get herself out of bad situations but mostly Nikki is just a tad bit annoying. Lelchuk puts Griffin in a category of female that is unattainable, she tries to make her seem cool, calm and everything other women want to be. But Griffin's character was never fleshed out, sure we get a bit of her history but it's in such short bursts that all we learn about her is that she doesn't talk much and when she does it seems to be in riddles.
Secondly, the writing, my god. If. I. Have. To. Read. Short. Sentences. For. Most.Of. The. Book. I. Want. To. Shoot. Myself. Sure, in some scenes short, quick sentences are needed but for majority of the book this is the case, leaving you thinking something is about to happen at every turn. Give the reader a break, make your sentences longer. Near the end of the book this was happening, almost as if the author realised what was happening but couldn't be bothered changing the beginning.
The plot was okay, something new, although a little hard to follow with all the wild goose chases and weird flashback stories of the main character. THe extra smaller plots could have been left out, or changed or just left out. We were told a heck of a lot about what happened and how it affected Nikki but never shown
In the end it took me a while to get through this book because i found it not all that great and not all that interesting.
However, the execution of this book left me mostly bored.
Nikki Griffin, a bookstore owner by day and a vigilante by night. She kicks ass and takes names. Sure, she can fight, sure she knows how to get herself out of bad situations but mostly Nikki is just a tad bit annoying. Lelchuk puts Griffin in a category of female that is unattainable, she tries to make her seem cool, calm and everything other women want to be. But Griffin's character was never fleshed out, sure we get a bit of her history but it's in such short bursts that all we learn about her is that she doesn't talk much and when she does it seems to be in riddles.
Secondly, the writing, my god. If. I. Have. To. Read. Short. Sentences. For. Most.Of. The. Book. I. Want. To. Shoot. Myself. Sure, in some scenes short, quick sentences are needed but for majority of the book this is the case, leaving you thinking something is about to happen at every turn. Give the reader a break, make your sentences longer. Near the end of the book this was happening, almost as if the author realised what was happening but couldn't be bothered changing the beginning.
The plot was okay, something new, although a little hard to follow with all the wild goose chases and weird flashback stories of the main character. THe extra smaller plots could have been left out, or changed or just left out. We were told a heck of a lot about what happened and how it affected Nikki but never shown
In the end it took me a while to get through this book because i found it not all that great and not all that interesting.
shemyshines98's review against another edition
5.0
Nicki is a bad ass. Enough said. On top of that, she owns a bookstore and loves to read?! She's the type of vigalente I wanna be! Books in the afternoon, kicking assholes at night. What I love most about her is that most of the "work" she does is to help battered women move on peacefully and by that I mean kick their abusers ass until they reach an understanding. Domestic violence is a topic I hold close to my heart and when purchasing this book I didn't know it would touch and that and I'm happy it did. This book was not what I thought it would be and I'm so glad about it because it turned out better than expected! I would really hope this becomes a series because Nicki's character holds a special place in my heart. ❤
ericfreemantx's review against another edition
3.0
Engaging thriller that jumps between set pieces of combat and a global conspiracy. Worthy of committing to the next book in the series.
joyousreads132's review against another edition
5.0
I love a great whodunnit novel, but more so when it features a female detective. Nikki Griffin is one such character and more. She has this almost supernatural ability to stay level-headed during the most stressful situations. Even while she’s getting tortured and beaten to within an inch of her life. She has the strength and prowess of an MMA fighter and is probably the kind of person you would want in your corner if you happened to find yourself in an abusive relationship. In fact, besides being a bookstore owner, that’s exactly what she does: she hunts down violent, abusive men and give them a taste of their own medicine.
I don’t think it’s a prerequisite for a PI, but I’ve read a few of them whose traumatic dark pasts were the catalyst as to why they are in the profession. Nikki’s, however, seemed like the source of her superpower, so to speak. She has a brother who’s so far gone that she has no choice but enable his drug addiction. I also think that the guilt she carries of how he turned out plays a factor. She loves and cares too much for all the women she helped and the brother who is the source of both her strength and weakness.
It seems like I’ve only talked about Nikki and not about the case that is the crux of the novel. Basically, she was hired to follow an employee suspected of selling company secrets. But slowly but surely, she uncovers something far more sinister than what was let on. Allow me to be a bit of a nerd here for a moment. If you’ve seen Captain America: Winter Soldier, the premise of what Nikki uncovered was similar minus the super weapon that could target them The creation of a technology that will enable the government or any factions to eliminate suspected terrorists and supposed government enemies without due process.
The investigative part of this novel was done quite well. The twist was a surprise and didn’t feel like it was contrived. Overall, Save Me From Dangerous Men was a fantastic debut. A fast-paced, badass pulp fiction of a novel with an equally badass character. What’s more, she can freaking recommend a book on a dime. She’s well-read, fierce, and a kick ass vigilante/assassin who uses her smarts as much as she uses her muscle.
marbooks88's review against another edition
4.0
Nikki Griffin's life has not been easy but she has been able to carve out a business she loves, a used bookstore and has a few trusted friends. But it is her side business as a PI that makes her feel like she is making a difference. Most of her cases revolve around men that are making their women miserable. Nikki's latest case is different and it just might be the end of the life she has created.
Thanks to the publisher, Flatiron Books, for providing an ARC for my honest review.
Thanks to the publisher, Flatiron Books, for providing an ARC for my honest review.
jessential_reads's review against another edition
3.0
I was completely enamored with Nikki - a formidable force with a fiery temperament, a disregard for conventional rules, and a penchant for safeguarding women in precarious situations. On top of all that, she's a bibliophile - what's not to like? However, while I appreciate that this is the opening book of a series and the author wanted to present Nikki in all her glory, the narrative took an interminably long time to get into the heart of the story.
Admittedly, the plot was captivating - a riveting mystery populated with intriguing characters, with the identity of the antagonist remaining shrouded in mystery until the end. Nevertheless, whole chapters were devoted to Nikki's backstory, causing the book to become unnecessarily lengthened. I understand that the intention was to grant Nikki a narrative arc and spotlight the diverse facets of her life beyond her profession as a PI, but the exposition could have been significantly condensed.
I was compelled to skip several parts because they became tiresome. That being said, the central plot was superb, even if things got a tad grisly and grim on occasion. It was delightful enough without leaving a sour taste in my mouth. I'm slightly curious to know if the next installment will be more plot-driven. Overall, it was an enjoyable book if you skim over the unnecessary.
Admittedly, the plot was captivating - a riveting mystery populated with intriguing characters, with the identity of the antagonist remaining shrouded in mystery until the end. Nevertheless, whole chapters were devoted to Nikki's backstory, causing the book to become unnecessarily lengthened. I understand that the intention was to grant Nikki a narrative arc and spotlight the diverse facets of her life beyond her profession as a PI, but the exposition could have been significantly condensed.
I was compelled to skip several parts because they became tiresome. That being said, the central plot was superb, even if things got a tad grisly and grim on occasion. It was delightful enough without leaving a sour taste in my mouth. I'm slightly curious to know if the next installment will be more plot-driven. Overall, it was an enjoyable book if you skim over the unnecessary.