20 Oct 2015

THE BLISSFULLY DEAD (A DETECTIVE LENNON THRILLER).

THE BLISSFULLY DEAD by LOUISE VOSS and MARK EDWARDS.

BACK COVER BLURB: She couldn't believe that he wanted to meet her. He was famous. She was a nobody. Finally, someone could see how special she was ... 

When a body of a teenage girl is found in a London hotel, DI Patrick Lennon is mystified. Nobody saw her or her killer enter the hotel, and there is no apparent motive - until a second teenager is found and Lennon realises somebody is targeting fans of the world's biggest boy band.

As Lennon struggles with both his home life and his rivals on the force, the pressure to catch the killer before he strikes again reaches fever pitch. And when Lennon makes a terrible mistake that ends in disaster, he finds himself in a race to save not only the lives of more teenage girls but also his own career.

FIRST SENTENCE {Prologue}: Rose looked up at the hotel, wishing she'd been allowed to save the image on her phone, that it wasn't against the rules.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 44}: Rose Sharp, aka MissTargetHeart, was in a mortuary somewhere, so it was hard to believe that she could have done anything recently to incur the wrath of Jade - hard to believe, but not impossible. Jade was very easily offended, as he well knew. (I've hidden names for those of you who may not want to know. Simply scroll over should you wish to view).

SOURCE: A GoodRead's win.

MY THOUGHTS: One of the best - not to mention most topical - thrillers I've read in a long while. I can't tell you how much I enjoyed this novel.

The second in a series but don't let that put you off. Though with few references to past events I felt this was all that was needed to bring me up to speed meaning this worked perfectly well as a standalone novel.

Wonderfully suspenseful and with its insight into the potential dangers of technology (social media and internet forums in particular), the allure of boy bands and the naivety of impressionable girls with aliases such as 'MissTargetHeart', 'F-U-Cancer' and 'YOLOSWAG' who are willing to do almost anything to meet their heroes this is a truly chilling and cautionary tale.

With twists and turns aplenty and with several characters who may or may not be the killer The Blissfully Dead kept me guessing right up until the end.

But it isn't all about 'the crime'.

There are some exceptional characters, the secondary just as well written as the primary. As with all good detectives DI Patrick Lennon has 'issues', his family life is complicated, some of his work relationships only slightly less so. His wife's story (allusions to which are given throughout the course of the book) both fascinating and quite unlike any other I've read in such novels.


9 comments:

Natasha said...

The back cover blurb alone hooked me in, will definitely have to get a hold of this and read it! - Tasha

Kelly said...

This sounds really good! I need to check out the first in the series, as well.

Based on your wonderful review, I'm currently reading the Huntress Moon series. Very good so far.

brandileigh2003 said...

Great to hear about the well done characters

Yvonne @ Fiction Books Reviews said...

Hi Tracy,

Congratulations on the Goodreads win, it really is a quiet feeling of satisfaction to have won something, isn't it?

I already have this one marked as 'to read' on Goodreads, so I have a feeling that I may have entered the same competition as you!

I really should go through and highlight all the other books by this pairing, as they come highly recommended by Nikki, another of my blogging friends and I am definitely a sucker for any crime / thriller there is going!

I did notice that both Voss and Edwards have now also taken to writing individually, although I have yet to check out any of the titles or ratings status.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts about a book you so obviously enjoyed :)

Yvonne

Melliane said...

It's always wonderful to have a great thriller like that!

Suko said...

Tracy, I'm glad you enjoyed this book so thoroughly! Excellent, enticing review.

Brian Joseph said...

The whole Boy Band and fandom thing makes this sound a little more interesting the average crime book. The social media connection also sound worth the read. I think think that many parents of young people really do not know what is out there.

I have a thing about reading series in order so I would need to start with the first book.

Literary Feline said...

I enjoy a good thriller. I am glad to her you liked this one so much, Tracy. I will definitely be on the look out for it.

Gina said...

Aww yes, and not that thrillers are specific to this season but they definitely are given an edge. Enjoyed the review!