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outsmartyourshelf's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The book opens with Cassie literally hot on the heels of serial predator, the Furman. Cassie has been working undercover posing as a sex worker on the cold streets, & now it seems that the Furman is in her sights. Alas, the misogynistic prattery of her fellow officers, especially Wicks, allows the Furman to make his escape leaving Cassie with minor injuries & major grievances. Her co-workers are either plain old misogynists (Wicks) or ineffectual enablers (Finch), even the female DCI Warman seems to have it in for Cassie.
Home isn't any easier since she has been looking after her younger teenage brother, Neil, since their parents died & older brother, Alex, swanned off to New York leaving Cassie holding all the responsibility. Cassie & Neil's relationship has become more difficult as he gets older & she returns from a particular gruelling shift to find that he has thrown a party & the house is full of teenagers, including the local drug dealer. Meanwhile psychotherapist Alan Palmer is dealing with a couple of particularly taxing clients whilst his marriage collapses & he tries to keep his daughter's life as normal as possible. Little by little, Palmer finds himself drawn into the Furman case.
There are several quite graphic scenes of sexual violence in this book & alongside the relentlessly nasty Wicks, I found it quite gruelling to read. I think it would have helped if Cassie Rowan was a character that you could empathise with, but she is so impulsive & pig-headed & just fails to learn that sometimes diplomacy will work where brute force won't. It may work in a fictional setting, but I'd bet she wouldn't last a year in the actual job. It all became rather mentally tiring to read. I'd already requested to read an ARC of the second book but probably wouldn't have done if I had read this first. Still, I try to give an author at least two books just in case the series rapidly improves.
TW: graphic scenes of violence/sexual violence, misogyny.
Home isn't any easier since she has been looking after her younger teenage brother, Neil, since their parents died & older brother, Alex, swanned off to New York leaving Cassie holding all the responsibility. Cassie & Neil's relationship has become more difficult as he gets older & she returns from a particular gruelling shift to find that he has thrown a party & the house is full of teenagers, including the local drug dealer. Meanwhile psychotherapist Alan Palmer is dealing with a couple of particularly taxing clients whilst his marriage collapses & he tries to keep his daughter's life as normal as possible. Little by little, Palmer finds himself drawn into the Furman case.
There are several quite graphic scenes of sexual violence in this book & alongside the relentlessly nasty Wicks, I found it quite gruelling to read. I think it would have helped if Cassie Rowan was a character that you could empathise with, but she is so impulsive & pig-headed & just fails to learn that sometimes diplomacy will work where brute force won't. It may work in a fictional setting, but I'd bet she wouldn't last a year in the actual job. It all became rather mentally tiring to read. I'd already requested to read an ARC of the second book but probably wouldn't have done if I had read this first. Still, I try to give an author at least two books just in case the series rapidly improves.
TW: graphic scenes of violence/sexual violence, misogyny.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexual violence
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