Eve Connor

I’ve never written a review for a book before, but as I haven’t gasped out loud and woken my boyfriend up, nor howled with tears since the death of Dobby…. Here goes my first… I really hope the author reads these reviews. What an absolutely astounding, intelligent and provoking novel. How the hell has this been the only novel I’ve read by this author? My mum bags me up a wodge of books she’s read every month and I swap with mine. I then swap with clients in my hair salon and so forth…. The absolute best swap she’s blessed me with for 3-4 years! And the woman has taste! This must have been a kicker to write sensitively due to the time and location the book is based, so hats off to him for delivering a thrilling, beautifully crafted “whodunnit”, alongside a harrowing account of daily life in late 60s southern America. Whilst still being sensitive to readers. I count my blessings to be born in 1983, England. With a well read and trail blazing mother that taught me to challenge general trends, and to swerve the sheep mentality of my peers. Her favourite book is To Kill A Mockingbird and I was forced to read this whilst grounded once for saying something awful as a teenager. My Stephen Kings and TV stripped from my room for 2 weeks…. I was not enthused with the title, thinking it was going to be a Mills & Boone romantic cringe fest. How wrong was I?! That book changed my life. I love the little nods to it throughout the novel. I can see how this book resonates with the author too. I am so grateful to be 41 in 2025 (as I’m writing this). A time (not yet perfect) but markedly more progressive and inclusive than ever before. Books like this are hard to read with regards to the casual racism of the times. The struggle of defence attorneys in a biased legal system, and sympathetic, every day people in a world steeped in discrimination is mind bending. I dread to think of people imprisoned over the years unfairly. I read 2 novels a week generally and have completed all of the main crime mainstream authors. I can usually predict the end mid way through though but still enjoy the writing and never finish before the end. This author genuinely kept me gasping and guessing three pages to the end. For this I’m so grateful! I have passed it on to clients in my salon that love crime books, with the express caveat that they pass it on and that the next person passes it on! I cannot WAIT to read more. Thanks Dave you absolute legend! X