Scan barcode
A review by mikkareads
The Next Girl by Carla Kovach
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
A baby is found abandoned; an anonymous caller urges the police to conduct a DNA test. Soon, Detective Gina Harte finds herself entangled in an old case as Deborah Jenkins, who has been missing for four years,becomes the focus of the investigation again. Because the baby is her daughter.
Unfortunately, there have been several real criminal cases where girls or young women were held captive by their abductors for years and sometimes had to bear their children. Thus, the novel's premise is certainly not unrealistic. Carla Kovach gives the story depth and a unique touch through a multifaceted portrayal from different perspectives.
The suspense remains high throughout, especially due to the unexpected twists, shifts in perspective, and the urgent question of whether Deborah will manage to escape her captor… Yes, the story often delves into the private lives of the investigators, but in my opinion, this only slightly slows down the narrative.
Detective Gina Harte is a well-developed character with a complex past and personal demons. Other characters are also portrayed with depth and authenticity, adding emotional weight to the drama. However, I find the villain to be one-dimensional: He is violent and volatile, he is repulsive, he has lost all touch with reality yet still manages to function in everyday life without drawing attention… But all of this stayed superficial, in my eyes; by the end, I still had no sense of who he really is and what shaped him.
I found the writing style to be clear, vivid, and engaging; it creates a dense atmosphere that draws the reader into the story and underscores the gravity of the theme.
Overall, I quite enjoyed reading the book. The unexpected twists make it an entertaining read, while the issues raised provoke thought with psychological depth. I'm deducting 1.5 stars due to my reservations regarding the portrayal of the perpetrator.
Unfortunately, there have been several real criminal cases where girls or young women were held captive by their abductors for years and sometimes had to bear their children. Thus, the novel's premise is certainly not unrealistic. Carla Kovach gives the story depth and a unique touch through a multifaceted portrayal from different perspectives.
The suspense remains high throughout, especially due to the unexpected twists, shifts in perspective, and the urgent question of whether Deborah will manage to escape her captor… Yes, the story often delves into the private lives of the investigators, but in my opinion, this only slightly slows down the narrative.
Detective Gina Harte is a well-developed character with a complex past and personal demons. Other characters are also portrayed with depth and authenticity, adding emotional weight to the drama. However, I find the villain to be one-dimensional: He is violent and volatile, he is repulsive, he has lost all touch with reality yet still manages to function in everyday life without drawing attention… But all of this stayed superficial, in my eyes; by the end, I still had no sense of who he really is and what shaped him.
I found the writing style to be clear, vivid, and engaging; it creates a dense atmosphere that draws the reader into the story and underscores the gravity of the theme.
Overall, I quite enjoyed reading the book. The unexpected twists make it an entertaining read, while the issues raised provoke thought with psychological depth. I'm deducting 1.5 stars due to my reservations regarding the portrayal of the perpetrator.