A review by urbansapphire
A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty
3.0
“A Beautiful Corpse” is the second in Christi Daugherty’s series following crime reporter Harper McLain as she chases stories across her hometown of Savannah, Georgia.
This instalment starts off with Harper propping up the bar where here friend Bonnie works when a call comes through with news of a shooting in an area well known and loved by tourists. It’s late, and quiet so Bonnie locks up up and they head over there together. When they arrive at the scene, things get a little more dramatic – the woman lying dead on the floor is Bonnie’s colleague at the bar – Naomi – who had left a little earlier and obviously never made it home.
Investigations begin into Naomi’s life and her associates and very quickly, her boyfriend, Wilson Shepherd becomes a person of interest. Her boss at the bar also turns out to have an unusual interest in the promising law student, working shifts to make ends meet. The third suspect in the frame is Peyton Anderson, the DA’s son and Naomi’s ex; the couple didn’t end their relationship on the best terms. All three of these men insist that they loved her – so which of them wanted her dead?
Harper is an exciting character with a rocky personal life, and unfortunately at the time of reading I hadn’t read the first in this series, “The Echo Killing” which meant that there were quite a few spoilers in this book. As a crime writer who caused waves attempting to solve her Mother’s murder, she hasn’t yet been forgiven by the Savannah Police Department and this throws her investigations some real curve balls – having the right people on side is always a great help in these situations. However strange things seem to be happening to Harper – or is it just her overtired, overactive imagination working overtime?
This is a fast-paced read with good, interesting characters and an interesting plot.
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me have an advance copy in return for an honest review.
This instalment starts off with Harper propping up the bar where here friend Bonnie works when a call comes through with news of a shooting in an area well known and loved by tourists. It’s late, and quiet so Bonnie locks up up and they head over there together. When they arrive at the scene, things get a little more dramatic – the woman lying dead on the floor is Bonnie’s colleague at the bar – Naomi – who had left a little earlier and obviously never made it home.
Investigations begin into Naomi’s life and her associates and very quickly, her boyfriend, Wilson Shepherd becomes a person of interest. Her boss at the bar also turns out to have an unusual interest in the promising law student, working shifts to make ends meet. The third suspect in the frame is Peyton Anderson, the DA’s son and Naomi’s ex; the couple didn’t end their relationship on the best terms. All three of these men insist that they loved her – so which of them wanted her dead?
Harper is an exciting character with a rocky personal life, and unfortunately at the time of reading I hadn’t read the first in this series, “The Echo Killing” which meant that there were quite a few spoilers in this book. As a crime writer who caused waves attempting to solve her Mother’s murder, she hasn’t yet been forgiven by the Savannah Police Department and this throws her investigations some real curve balls – having the right people on side is always a great help in these situations. However strange things seem to be happening to Harper – or is it just her overtired, overactive imagination working overtime?
This is a fast-paced read with good, interesting characters and an interesting plot.
Thanks to Netgalley for letting me have an advance copy in return for an honest review.