When They See Me

#WhenTheySeeMe #NetGalley
Awesome thriller.
An au pair disappears in the heart of suburbia. When her body shows up, all eyes are on the only witness to her abduction, a two-year-old child. Detective and expert witness interviewer Laura Shaw knows she is needed. But in the aftermath of a case that nearly broke her, Laura questions if she can continue to do police work. Her partner, Detective Niamh Darmody, is on the case, but without Laura to rely on, she's struggling too. When the discovery of a second body blows all their theories out of the water, Laura and Niamh must accept that the killer is poised to strike again. All they know is that he is tantalisingly close, hidden in plain sight. But they won't see him - not until he wants them to .
Finished it in a day. Loved it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Viking for giving me an advance copy.

Laura Shaw and Niamh Darmody #2

I absolutely love the first book in the series, and I’ve been looking forward to the follow-up ever since and I’m so not disappointed.

After a scary start of the novel we get a bit of breathing space as Laura is being assessed if she’s fit for duty. Can she still do the job of a detective with An Garda Síochána after the last terrible case?? Meanwhile a body is found in the Dublin mountains – is it to that of missing Spanish au pair Mia Ruiz? Niamh and Senan McCarthy (McArsey) investigate. The story is told alternately by Laura and Niamh.

First of all, this is exceptionally well written, and I can barely put the book down once I begin it. I love hearing both of the main characters inner voices as they wrestle with a multitude of things, not just this case. I love Laura‘s sense of irony, but most of all you sympathise with her challenges and her uncertainties. As for Niamh, her “in the head“ thoughts on Senan are a hoot, and this helps take some of the sting out of the darkness encountered. Niamh too has some things to resolve and this makes for fascinating reading. I thoroughly enjoy how Niamh and Laura don’t need words, they are so in tune with each other. All the characters are done well, from the wee ones to the big cheeses, such as The Cigare, the SIO, Dan “not on my watch“ McNeil. As for the killers voice, which is interspersed throughout, take a deep breath as this is utterly chilling, and it gives oodles of horrifying creepiness and cringe or three. Wow – so powerful.

This is a strange, compelling and cracking read. It’s multilayered as it’s not just about the investigation. The dialogue is terrific, some of the Irish expressions are simply fantastic and as for the interviews that take place – talk about cats playing with mice! It twists, it turns, the storyline takes us in many different directions until we reach a belter of an ending. Love it! Can’t wait for number three.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin General UK for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

I loved Gill Perdue's first novel, which was called The Interview when I read it though seems to have been later renamed If I Tell. Anyway (annieway, as Niamh would say), Dublin-based detectives and Specialist Victim Interviewers Laura and Niamh are back, with an intriguing and disturbing new case, when a young Spanish au pair is found dead, the only witness to her abduction being a two year old girl.

There's some deeply unsavoury stuff from the killer's POV (I really could do without all the Mummy's feet stuff) but it certainly paints a picture. There's not a huge amount of mystery, as we know more or less who the murderer is (though not his name) and the weird workings of his mind - it's more about catching him, and about what's going on for our two detectives in the meantime.

I love the characters of Niamh and Laura - both are very credible, both with their own issues. Niamh is laid uncharacteristically low by pain-in-the-neck new girlfriend Amber; Laura is coping with a new baby and some ongoing mental health struggles. Niamh's new landlady Dorothy is a treasure, too.

Though I don't know why Laura is so convinced "Noah" is an out-there, eyebrow-raising name for her baby, when it's been one of the top boys' names in Ireland over the last few years. (My generation is a different matter - you'd be doomed to a lifetime of ark jokes.)

Fantastic read, enjoyed it tremendously. Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy and provide an honest review.

Loved every minute of this book and couldn't put it down - wow

A real page turner, twisty and gripping crime thriller. The killer seems to be creepy and terrifying and the author did a grand job to display this. Great characters for the duo detectives. Well done team

Definitely highly recommended. Must read !

Thank you to Netgalley