Is there anything better than getting your teeth stuck into a solid crime thriller? I don’t think so. Without further ado, here’s your next read – Keep Her Close by M. J. Ford.
The plot:
A missing woman. A city in turmoil.
When a young woman goes missing from Jesus College in Oxford, DS Josie Masters is plunged into a world of panic as fear grips the city. Along with Thames Valley Police’s newest recruit, the handsome DS Pryce, Josie must act fast – and when two more girls disappear from Oriel and Somerville colleges, she realises the killer is sending her a deadly message in a cruel game of cat and mouse.
This time, the case is personal – but who is the perpetrator?
A very good and interesting concept
Keep Her Close is a very good book. It’s tense when it needs to be, modern and realistic with the ‘whodunit’ vibe we all love.
I did, ultimately, have my suspicions and was correct, but I’d like to stress that I’m basically a detective; there were just a couple of things that didn’t sit right with me, so I placed my bets. I couldn’t guess the why, and it was intriguing as pieces started to come together.
I haven’t read Ford’s first book, Hold My Hand, but I really wish I had prior to reading Keep Her Close. It does provide spoilers from the first book, and whilst Keep Her Close can be read as a standalone, I feel like I would’ve connected with the protagonist more. Saying this, Hold My Hand is on my list because it sounds AWESOME.
Writing wise, it is what you’d expect from a crime thriller – lots of short sentences and conversation to drag you in. I found myself turning pages quickly because I was so intrigued by the ‘why’, as the author keeps you guessing with different theories and dead-ends.
I really liked the protagonist and how she was portrayed. Masters is just a standard DS, and as I haven’t read the previous book, was immediately dragged in with the first chapter being her in a psychologist’s office. She’s engaging and not too feisty but knows when to hold her ground. There were times when I was thinking ‘just give her a break’ but alas, what a boring thriller that would make.
The epilogue was fab, and slightly unexpected. It’s sold me for the next book, if there is one.
Keep Her Close wasn’t an “oh my god WHAAAAT” read for me, but a very good and interesting concept and well pulled off by the author.
If you’re a fan of J.P. Carter or M. J. Arlidge, I think you’ll really enjoy Keep Her Close, and I’m excited to see what other ideas Ford has up his sleeves! I would highly recommend reading Hold My Hand first, as I felt a bit disappointed that I was getting spoilers, as it does sound incredible.
Keep Her Close, M. J. Ford, RRP £7.99 (paperback); Book Depository
Pages: 341
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Crime Fiction/ Thriller
