Eeny Meeny by M.J. Arlidge

Eeny Meeny by M.J. Arlidge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The girl emerged from the woods, barely alive. Her story was beyond belief. But it was true. Every dreadful word of it.

Days later, another desperate escapee is found - and a pattern is emerging. Pairs of victims are being abducted, imprisoned then faced with a terrible choice: kill or be killed.

Would you rather lose your life or lose your mind?

Detective Inspector Helen Grace has faced down her own demons on her rise to the top. As she leads the investigation to hunt down this unseen monster, she learns that it may be the survivors - living calling cards - who hold the key to the case.

And unless she succeeds, more innocents will die . . .

Another serial killer/crime thriller novel set in Southampton this time. The story is essentially about a series of double kidnappings that result in the killing of at least one of the pair. The victims are kidnapped and left to die without food or water in places they cannot escape from. The perpetrator gives them a chance to survive by letting them each make a life or death decision. They are forced to commit murder in order to survive. Once one of the pair have made that decision and killed the other one they are released and left with the guilt and torment of having to live with what they have been forced to do.

The DI who is assigned the case is Helen Grace who has insecurities and issues of her own to battle with. She is a committed policewoman who has to fill her life with a punishing workload in order to keep her demons at bay.

During the investigation she comes to realise the victims are all linked to her in some way and as the case unravels things become very personal. Assisted by two colleagues in the force Mark and Charley who are also facing problems of their own, they fight against time to get one step ahead of the killer before they can strike again. Good supporting characters make this an even more enjoyable read and hopefully we'll see more of them in the next book.

This is the first in a series of novels that feature DI Helen Grace and will keep the reader guessing until the end. Lots of blind alleys in this one and a strong open ending that hints it's not all over yet. Will definitely look out for the next in the series and hope it's as good as this one. I am giving this debut novel a well deserved 4 star rating.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.