whitneydaniell

by: Gillian McAllister
published: Aug 1, 2023
genre: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction
384 Pages, Hardcover
GoodReads Link

Whoa buddy, what a rollercoaster ride! You think you know what’s going on and then, halfway through the book, everything is flipped upside down.

I. Characters – The story is told from the points of view of Detective Julia Day, Emma, and Lewis.

Julia loves being a detective, it’s her whole personality and she rarely breaks away from her work life to enjoy her home and family life. This dedication to her job has cost her so much with her family but she cannot (and will not) change it. Mother to Genevieve and wife of Art. Julia often brings her work home or, she simply never leaves the police station – she’s made her office an extension of her home. Julia finds herself not present with her family, missing birthday outings, and neglecting the most important relationship that she should be fostering.

Emma is the mother of Matthew, a young man who is suspected to be involved in the disappearance of Olivia Johnson. Emma knows her son, she has no reason to second-guess his innocence but, Matthew wasn’t always who he says he is and Emma knows that first-hand.

Lewis is the father of Sadie Owen, a young woman who went missing one year prior to Olivia Johnson, her case is unsolved. Lewis is not unlike any other parent, Emma, and Julia included, he will move the heavens and the Earth to find out what happened to his daughter. Lewis is not going to leave a single stone unturned and early on, he realizes that DCI Julia Day is not going to help him so he takes matters into his own hands.

Some other characters that get an honorable mention without any other context, LOL:

• Price, the informant.
• Bill, Julia’s lawyer brother.
• Yolanda, Lewis’ wife, and Sadie’s mother.

II. The Story / Plot

Much like, Wrong Place Wrong Time, this story is really about the lengths that parents will go to for their children. The superhuman strength they will exhibit and the elements that they will bend, to ensure their children are unscathed by the world. The story starts off with Julia protecting Genevieve, coming to her rescue. Genevieve was attacked in a parking lot and defended herself. The fallout from an act of self-defense flips their whole world upside down.

For about 50% of the book, I knew where it was going, I was keeping up but then, during one of Lewis’ chapters – it was like someone flipped over the toy chest and dumped everything out on the floor – from then on, nothing was as it seems.

I’m always a sucker for good police work and as unlikeable as Julia is, I enjoyed that she was a thorough detective. Even while distracted, she remembered and went back to evidence or statements that weren’t as they seem – the clothes all being a different size, the reader will pick up on that. There is no such thing as a “coincidence” – I believe that – when you see something glaring you in the face, believe it. Even with all her missteps, slacking, lack of sleep, and living off of coffee and coffee alone, Julia wasn’t stupid. Did she make some questionable decisions? Yes but, all for the greater good of saving someone’s child; whether it be hers or Emma’s son or, Lewis’ daughter.

The plot “twist”… DUHHHHHHHHHHHHH. I knew that was going to happen, I just needed to know the why. I had an idea while reading but again, that got tossed upside down. Even though, I think the “why” could have been a little better – my thought is much more sinister – I can see it, I get it.

The ending…. so no one can be trusted?!

III. The Writing

Easy read. Finished it in just over 8 hours. Even though McAllister is a British writer, the writing was easy to read and understand. I’ve said before that, sometimes with British or Australian writers, their slang gets lost in translation for me, but not this one. The only gripe I have is, what is Ghetto Golf? Someone please comment and let me know because in America, we have a totally different definition of “ghetto” and I don’t think it goes with golf. Help me out.

Final Thought: Would I hand it off to a friend? Absolutely, yes! Would I pick up more Gillian McAllister books? Also, Yes.