Review: Eeny Meeny by M J Arlidge

Two people are abducted and abandoned without food and water. Lying between them is a gun. Only one will walk out alive.

When it happened the first time to a young couple, the survivor was pegged as a murderer. Yet when the deaths begin to add up, Detective Inspector Helen Grace must find the malicious serial killer before they strike again. Little does she know, the killings are personal.

The first in a new series, Eeny Meeny is genuinely the most terrifying, horrifying thriller I have read in some time. It was brilliant.  Detective Inspector Helen Grace is an incredibly strong protagonist; she has risen through the ranks rather quickly, not without hard work and dedication. Situations in her childhood ripped from her the power to save the lives of her loved ones and she’s making up for it now by protecting the lives of those who cannot protect themselves.  So, when she learns the victims are tied to her, guilt similar to what she experienced as a child comes flooding back. This time, however, she has the ability to take control over the outcome.

This is not a light read; it is devastatingly dark and brutal. At times, I had to turn away. I don’t consider that a fault of the writer, instead a compliment. His ability to immerse the reader in the story-line, to make it come alive on the pages, no matter how brutal or terrifying, showcases his brilliant talent.

At over 350 pages, there is quite a lot of substance to this book. At times, I thought it might be a bit much, so many characters to keep track of with so many details. Yet, as the first in a trilogy, it served as an excellent background and build up to Helen’s character.

A blockbuster debut in the U.K;  I impatiently await the US release of the subsequent title. M.J. Arlidge is a brilliantly stunning talent.  I cannot wait to read more.  Highly, highly recommended.