A review by hannahleelovestoread
Two Dead Billionaires by Luke Patrick Sheldon

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

The captivating novel Two Dead Billionaires by Luke Patrick Sheldon opens with a crime scene which is exceptional for two reasons:  it is outlandishly grisly, and it features what will be the first murder to be investigated in the nation of Iceland in over three years. The no-nonsense Hekla Rafney Fritzdóttir leads the case, and her best hope of solving the accompanying mystery is by working with August, the timidly eccentric ex-boyfriend of the woman who is quickly established as the primary suspect. This story, often reminiscent of the Lisbeth Salander series, is fast-paced and absolutely captivating (and hard to discuss in detail without giving spoilers). Unlike most thriller writers, Sheldon’s greatest strength as an author lies not in his plot formation but in his character development. Hekla, for example, appears to be at least loosely based on Mariska’s Hargitay’s Olivia Benson from Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, and she is one of the most admirable and well-rounded literary figures I have encountered in years. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel, and I can’t wait to see more of Sheldon’s work. 

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