𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐈'𝐦 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬, 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬.

This was a debut? I'm already on board to buy and read everything this author writes. If you liked THEY NEVER LEARN by Layne Fargo, you will fall in love with Dylan, or Lady Justice.

Dylan Truman is on a quest to take down predatory men. She has a rather unique approach to this task as part of her consultation is inquiring what the victim would like to see happen to the target. Aided by her best friend and master hacker Daniel, Dylan has built this persona completely through word of mouth, and she works hard to protect her double life. Then she receives a call from a client that changes everything...millionaire and pharmaceutical billionaire Brent Wilder has blacklisted one of his female employees, a scientist who knows the dangerous truth about a new antidepressant his company is marketing. This case becomes deeply personal to Dylan as Brent assaulted and disfigured her older sister years ago and escaped punishment. Driven by a blind need for revenge, Dylan becomes dangerously close to Brent while wrestling with her feelings for Daniel, which are brought to the surface by the reappearance of his former flame.

Dylan was the kind of character I love--driven, flawed, motivated, and so layered that it's impossible to know her. Her narration made her immediately likable, and although I am a fan of most revenge stories, I was especially drawn to this one because the writer completely immersed me into Dylan's world. The reader doesn't get a lot of back story about her sister's assault, but the pain and rage is still vividly detailed. I was surprised at one especially steamy scene, only because they're not often found in thrillers, but it worked for this story! *clutches pearls*

CLOSE ENOUGH TO HURT won't publish until the fall, October 10, 2023, but it's one for thriller lovers that should definitely be on your radar now! Thank you so much to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Publishing for my review copy.