A Beautiful Corpse

A very enjoyable read! I was very interested in getting my hands on this one after I read the blurb and I am pleased to say that I was not let down.

The story is written very well and the characters are interesting and jump off the page. I would recommend this read!

Hurrah, Harper McClain is back! Last year I read and raved about The Echo Killing, the first book in the feisty crime reporter's series (you can read that review right HERE) and I was very excited to catch up with her again. Boy, I was NOT disappointed.  

Harper McClain is a crime journalist for her local Savannah rag, investigating and exposing murderers and villains in the name of public interest. This time, the city is shocked when a pretty law student is shot. With her boyfriend appearing as the obvious culprit, surely this is an open and shut case? But he claims he's innocent, and the victim's father believes him. With the police keen to shut the case down, convinced they have their man, it's down to Harper to investigate and search out the truth. 

Once again, Christi Daugherty had me gripped from the very first page and I sped through this book in a couple of huge, breathless sittings. This is super fast paced reading, with one more chapter quickly leading to half a book and a complete inability to look away. There's action, twists, suspicion and doubt which, along with the heat of the Savannah setting and yes, a bit of will they/won't they love interest in the form of dashing Detective Luke Walker, makes for an tense and exciting edge-of-your-seat ride. 

I particularly loved how this book flowed on so easily from the first in the series, despite it being a year since I'd read it. It felt like I was just picking up where I'd left off and straight away I was familiar and comfy with it. While it probably could be read as a standalone, I think you'd probably benefit most if you read The Echo Killing, in particular for a lot of background on Harper (who has an intriguing backstory).  She's a fascinating character, firmly cemented now as a personal favourite. I love her strength, sense of justice, empathy and feisty-ness, splashed with a raw vulnerability which makes her both likable and relatable. I want her as a pal!   

A Beautiful Corpse is a compelling, unputdownable read, which manages to maintain the  high standard set in the first book more than matching my high expectations. This is a series which mixes a sublime blend of brilliant characterization and pitch perfect pacing - I really can't recommend it enough. With the book ending on a bit of a cliff hanger, I'm now waiting eagerly for the next in the series and hoping it isn't long before once again I'm engrossed in Harper McClain's world.

Authentic, fast-paced, with an absorbing plot and a likeable protagonist, A Beautiful Corpse’ is the second book in the Harper McClain series, the crime reporter investigates the murder of someone she knows and uncovers a web of fear, lies and privilege.

This story works as a standalone read and there is enough backstory on the main characters and previous events for this to be enjoyable. However, it’s so good, you’ll want to read the first book too.

The setting is atmospheric and bought to life by the details of the buildings, people and the social ethos. The characters are vividly portrayed and their motivations and interactions with each other believable. The life of a crime reporter is intrinsic to the story and is expertly written.

I like Harper she is driven and skilled at her job and hides her vulnerability well. Her relationship with the police officers, whose cooperation she needs to succeed, is explored and provides some important conflict in the story.

There is an overriding theme to this story, the search for Harper’s mother’s murderer, more clues are discovered in this book but it ends with new questions that may lead the crime reporter into personal danger if she pursues the truth.

The exciting ending is ultimately satisfying, tieing up the plot, but posing further questions for Harper, presumably to be resolved in the next book.

I received a copy of this book from Harper Collins UK - Harper Fiction via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

This is a gripping novel. Harper McClean may be a crime reporter but she is more successful in detecting crime than the police. She brings to the story events from earlier books and leaves us with unresolved issues which will no doubt be picked up next time! Many of her police contacts will not speak to her because of her role in bringing down one of their superior officers for murder in a previous book. That gets in the way of this investigation. The murder of her mother many years ago still haunts her as does a broken love affair. Or is it broken? There are many story lines in this,all superbly pursued,and there is enough solved to leave the reader content. This is a very powerful novel.

The second in the series for crime reporter Harper McClain, but the first for me, and I don’t feel like I’ve missed out by not reading the first in the series.
I absolutely loved this book and will be looking out for the first book.

When 24 yr old law student Naomi Scott is shot and killed, there are 3 suspects, Harper McClain uses her instincts and own experiences to set about investigating the crime in the hope of catching the real suspect.

A fast paced, exciting thriller which kept me guessing throughout.

Wow, what a fantastic book. I only just read the Echo Killing which is the first book in this series earlier this week and I wish I had gotten into this series sooner. A Beautiful Corpse I felt was even better. I started this on Saturday night and couldn't wait to finish it this morning. And now that I have finished it I am already desperate for book 3! The way this book ended left it wide open with questions... questions that I am dying to learn the answers to.

It is a year since the events of The Echo Killing and Harper McClain is back doing what she does best at the newspaper. As the crime writer she is kept busy in this Savannah town, but after her actions she is on the outer with the local police. One night she is drinking and playing pool with her best friend Bonnie when a call comes in of a shooting in the tourist district. The 2 head over to the crime scene but soon realise that the victim is Bonnies co-worker Naomi Scott. Naomi's boyfriend is immediately under suspicion and arrested. Harper gets into the investigation and learns that there is another suspect, who has strong connections in town. The harder she looks the more danger she is in.

I love the character of Harper. She had a rough start to life - that you learn all about in The Echo Killing. Events in that book also devastated her. Her love life is also a mess but she gets on everyday, without a lot of sleep. She is stubborn and refuses to back down, even when her life is being threatened. But she is loyal to those that she loves, she would do anything to protect them. I look forward to learning more about her as the series continues.

Thanks to Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

While I thought this was a very thrilling, chilling read, which was easy to get into and riveting, I wish I had known prior it was a series. More because I’m ocd, than the fact that it doesn’t do well as a stand-alone. I think it was a great book and easy to get through, because the author made sure to give intriguing plots and characters which draw you in. I will eventually read book one and hopefully get another by this author.
Will use in a challenge and recommend to the members of Chapter Chatter Pub!

A solid 4 stars.
This is book 2 in the series, but There was enough information about the events in book 1 that it worked fine for me. Harper McClain is the crime reporter for the Savannah Daily News. She goes the scene of a murder with her friend Bonnie, a bartender at the Library Bar. The murdered woman is the other afternoon shift bartender, Naomi Scott. Harper wants to solve the case, because she feels the police are pursuing the wrong man. She identifies another suspect Peyton Anderson, son of the local District Attorney. The police tell her that Peyton has a rock solid alibi, but won't reveal the details. How she solves the murder of Naomi makes for an exciting mystery/thriller
One quote:
Heat--"When she stepped out of the newspaper office, the sun was fierce. Humidity hung so thick it left a white haze in the air, giving the gold;d dome of the City an oddly electric shimmer in the distance.
August was always brutal, but this year it seemed even worse than usual. It had been over 100 degrees for two weeks ."
Thanks to Harper Collins UK for sending me this eARC through NetGalley

"A Beautiful Corpse" by Christi Daugherty.

The first book I read by that author.

4.5 stars. I loved it!
Really good thriller, captivating, well written story.

Naomi is a young law student who gets shot and killed. Harper and her friend Bonnie arrive at the scene to find out that the victim is someone they knew, she worked with Bonnie. Soon a suspect is arrested. Harper is a journalist with ideas. Though she only briefly saw the victim that night at the bar she knows the suspect in custody is innocent... But nobody wants to listen to her! She investigates. The more answers she finds the more questions follow...

I really liked Harper, her devotion, her thinking, I felt a connection. Really well written and developed character.

Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins UK for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review. All opinions are my own!

I have loved every single page of this book, what a page turner, it had me enthralled, excited and jumping of my seat at times
The story revolves around a newspaper, the police, rich boys and a murdered woman. The murder of Naomi Scott seemed cut and dried her boyfriend was good for it, except Naomi's dad didn't believe that and the police didn't entirely believe they had arrested the right man. So Harper McCain reporter for local newspaper decided she would solve it, unfortunately the police wanted nothing to do with her as she had been responsible for sending the chief of police to jail the previous year, what no one knew was she visited Smith in prison she still valued his advice especially on cases like this one. Harper was convinced as was Jerod Scott that rich boy Peyton Anderson had killed her he had restraining orders filed by Naomi and 2 other women at law school
The only problem was he had rock solid alibi he had been stabbed and was in hospital that night or was he?
Harper sets out to find the truth almost getting herself killed in process. And who has broken into her flat and left helpful paperwork in her car?? Someone was watching her but who?

Christi I am assuming is writing a follow on book she can't leave this at this point it would be very frustrating!!

Oh my word!!
I wait with bated breath for the next installment. Christi Daugherty, you have a gem of a series on your hands.
Great characters, great story and I am still in love with Luke.

Harper McClain is a Crime Reporter for the local newspaper in Savanna Georgia.A young girl is found shot dead ,Harper knows her and is determined to find the killer when the local Police seem to have given up .I loved Harper ,she is so feisty .I haven't read the first book in the series but this book is a good standalone .The description of Savannah is so good I could almost feel the heat. There are old Families in Savannah who have a lot of influence and power both with the Police and the Newspaper .The story was full of twists and turns with a really good ending that left me hanging and ready to read the next Harper book .Many thanks to the Publisher ,the Author and NetGalley for my review copy in return for an honest review .

Harper McCain #2

Harper McClain is a crime reporter. A woman is killed in the heart of the affluent district, Savannah. But this story is personal. The corpse is familiar. Naomi Scott was only twenty four years old, a law student wh was working in a bar to make ends meet. She had been gunned down, but no one had witnessed the shooting. There are three suspects: her boyfriend, who has a criminal past, her boss, who had stalked another bartender two years ago, and the district attorney's son, who Naomi had dated until their relationship ended in acrimony. All three men claimed to have loved her. The pressure is on Harper to go beyond the murder. With more layoffs at the newspaper her boos fears both their jobs are on the line. Someone familiar and dangerous is watching Harper's every move.

Harper is still getting a frosty reception from Savannah's police department after trying to solve her mother's murder. Savannah is filled with influential families and lots of tourists. The characters in this novel are believable and I did like a Harper for several reasons: she's tough, determined and let's nothing get in her way whilst investigating. I did not realise that this was the second book in the Harper McClain series when I requested this book. Although it can be read as a standalone, I really do think you need to read the first book to get some of the backstory. A thoroughly good police procedural.

I would like to thank HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Christi Daugherty for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, first and foremost to the publisher and author for the chance to discover this series. I shall have to read book 1 though. Book 2, "A Beautiful Corpse" was brilliant. I really enjoyed it. A different angle for me on a murder. Crime reporting. Not read this genre before and really liked it. I loved the dogged determination to see the case through and find ways of catching someone who thought they were untouchable. I shall keep an eye out for this series in the future.

Shots ring out on one of Savannah's most famous streets. A beautiful law student lies dead.
Three men close to the victim are questioned. All of them claim to love her. All of them say they are innocent of her murder. As crime reporter Harper McClain unravels a tangled story of obsession and jealousy, the killer focuses on her.
This is the second book in the series, it could be read on its own but it does give spoilers for the first book so I’d recommend reading in order. Once again a well written book with very good characters & a well paced plot. It drew me in from the start & held my attention all the way through & I look forward to more in the series

A very personal case again for Harper, crime reporter in Savannah. Running alongside her investigation into the death of a law student is a mysterious situation which began in the previous book and that seems to relate to her mother, murdered 16 yrs before. The book is set up well for a sequel.

I really enjoyed this book, Harper is a great character feisty, strong yet shows her vulnerable side too. She's up against the police who think she betrayed them, someone stalking her breaking into her house, an ex who she's not over all while she is trying to solve a murder, the main suspect being someone with a dad in power who no one wants to upset, but Harper will stop at nothing to get justice.

Read this book in 2 days. Couldn't put it down. Really enjoyed the storyline. Looking forward to the next installment

Having missed the first book (The Echo Killing) in the Harper McClain series I was slightly concerned that this would spoil my enjoyment of ‘A Beautiful Corpse’. Not so. It was clear that Harper had history but this was dealt with efficiently and left me free to concentrate on what was happening now.

Harper in an investigative journalist on the late shift in Savannah and the text captured the heat and excitement of the time and place. Armed with her police scanner Harper is ready, willing and able to rush to the scene of the incident, meeting up with her photographer, to get the story onto the page - front, in possible. The time, 2.00 a.m. and she learns of a murder in the wealthy tourist district but there are no witnesses. She discovers that the victim is known to her – a beautiful, vibrant law student who works as a bartender, Naomi Scott. The suspect? Naomi’s boyfriend, a black man, who was seen brandishing a gun.

Harper has other problems to deal with: she still needs to discover who murdered her mother. Due to events in the first book, she is suffering from a freeze from her usual contacts in the police department, including her former boyfriend. To add to this, not only does Harper need to investigate this crime, she is subject to internal politics at the newspaper with the fear of redundancies. And, is she being stalked or is she paranoid? A lot to deal with!

Clearly it would have helped to have read the first in the series. Equally clearly, the story is not over as we are left with a cliff hanger. Episode 3.

You have one question? Did I like it? Indeed I did and I would certainly recommend it. It was a well constructed plot and great characters, particularly Harper.

Thank you to the author, publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.

This was an absolutely fantastic follow up to The Echo Killing, the first in a series. I love the main protagonist Harper McClain, a crime reporter from Savannah Georgia. The writing flowed beautifully from page to page and I really enjoyed the mystery and Whodunnit. I loved Harper’s own story and her relationships. A fantastic story. And a great follow up. Highly recommended.

I didn't realise that this is the second book of a series, but it didn't matter. An excellent thriller and one that kept me turning the pages from start to finish. I hope to read the first book shortly (The Echo Killing). I am not going to write what the story is about as i prefer one to read the book for themselves, but i do recommend.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review.

Harper ! What a girl, excellent thriller about this firebrand of a journalist in Savannah,GA. the city itself plays an important part of the story and those who know the city at all will be delighted by the landmarks in the story. Harper and Luke is a good ongoing story as is the niggle of self doubt that a young woman developing a career in a cut throat industry. The story itself is intelligent and gives just enough for you to doubt the obvious. Even when it is very clear who “done” it, how on earth can we prove it ?

Next book is intertwined and I look forward to reading it

I really enjoyed the first Harper McClain book and this one is even better!
Harper is a crime reporter and up until recently had a great working relationship with the Police.
Due to a conviction that happened in the first book, most of the Police have turned against her.
Someone she knows from the local bar is murdered and Harper is determined to find the killer. However, with the Police not being on her side, it proves tougher than she thought.
As well as hunting a murderer Harper has to deal with her own problems and starts to get worried when someone breaks into her home.
It’s worth reading the first book to get the background story for this book but there are some explanations to help if this is the only book you’ve read.
This is a great read that will have you on the edge of your seat.
I love Harper’s character and can’t wait to find out what happens next.
Thanks to Harper Collins and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Harper McClain is a reporter and one that seems to have antagonised the police force and when one of the bartenders at a bar she goes to is found dead and lying in a pool of blood the cops are freezing her out of the crime scene. However Harper will not give up without a fight and when she thinks the case is going in a wrong direction she cant help but try and 'solve' the murder herself, she is a fiesty character and yet she is also quite loveable too and I totally enjoyed the book.
I hadn't read the first in the series and that didn't spoil my enjoyment of the book but I will go back and read it to see more about her background and just what caused the rift with the cops. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next in the series.
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of the book.

An excellent read. The story line was credible although I've not checked but I presume there was at least 1 book before this and there will definitely be another book after it. I always wanted to keep reading and my interest never dropped. My only criticism (also applied to some other books) is that the heroine seems full of confidence about work and life but still acts like a 14 year old over an ex-boyfriend. Still apart from this a definite recommendation from me not to miss it

At the end of 2017, I randomly happened on The Echo Killing on Netgalley and, after reading the blurb which I found really intriguing, I requested it. Then I read it and became obsessed with the novel and since then I have been waiting for its sequel, A BEAUTIFUL CORPSE, which I read in one day and which left me excited and impatient to read the next one.

It’s set in Savannah, Georgia, where the summers are hot and dry and where there are enough crimes to keep our protagonist busy. Who is the protagonist? Meet Harper McClain, a young reporter who covers the crime beat which means that she usually works at night and sleeps during the day (although, I have to say she doesn’t do much sleep during the day). When she was twelve years old, Harper’s mother was killed and she was the one who found the body, but the killer was never found. Now, someone is clearly after her, breaking into her house and leaving notes into her car, but she also has other things that keep her quite busy. First, there is her job. Naomi, a young woman who worked in the same bar with her friend Bonnie, has been killed. The police suspect her boyfriend, but Harper has her own theories and she becomes quite involved in the case. Also, the Savannah Police, who she once considered her family, is now shutting her out following the events in The Echo Killing, making it very difficult for her to do her job.

Now, let’s talk about her love life. In The Echo Killing, Harper had a brief but intense fling with Luke, a detective, but things didn’t end well. However, a year later it seems that it’s not over between the two of them and I have to say I am becoming quite invested in their love story so I am really looking forward to see what happens in the next book.

I really like the character of Harper, a strong-willed, independent, and clever young woman. Her life gets more and more complicated, both personally and professionally, and she is an excellent journalist who doesn’t stop until she finds out the truth, even if that means that often she finds herself in danger and the target of a killer.

A BEAUTIFUL CORPSE is fast-paced, suspenseful, and intriguing. The author knows how to captivate the attention of the reader with a clear and simple prose, beautiful descriptions of Savannah, engaging characters, and a riveting and gripping plot. If you are looking for something addictive and thrilling, then I highly recommend A BEAUTIFUL CORPSE (and The Echo Killing), while I will be waiting for book number 3!

I was sucked straight into this, but then realised that it's the second book in a series. I immediately stopped reading, bought the first book, tore through that and re-started the second! The Savannah setting was gorgeously written, and such an elegant city is a great contrast to the crime depicted. There were enough secondary characters to round out the story without overwhelming it, and the press-police relationship was really insightful - you can tell the author is writing from experience. The only negative is how long I'll have to wait for the next in the series!

I really enjoyed this book. Haven’t read the first Harper McClain book, but I didn’t feel this distracted from my enjoyment of the book. Excellent plot and pacing, and well drawn characters. Highly recommended

An alibi set in gold. Or is it?

Harper McClain, a journalist, working for the Savannah Daily News, had been at playing pool at The Library, a pub where her best friend Bonnie works, when Miles Jackson, the photographer she works with calls her to say that a young woman has been shot in the upmarket part of the city. Bonnie decides to go with her and is shocked when she realises that the girl is Naomi Scott. She worked with Bonnie in the pub and had left before her shift had ended.

The police immediately suspect that her boyfriend, Wilson Shepherd is the killer, but after talking to Jerrod Scott, Harper becomes convinced that it can’t be him. She starts digging into Naomi’s past and discovers that Naomi had taken out a restraining order against Peyton Anderson, but he has a solid alibi.

A fast-moving storyline following Harper McClain as she tries to solve this senseless murder. What I enjoyed most was being inside the heart of the newspaper and being part of the complexities of its operation. Christi Daugherty's prose flows, and with strong characters throughout, this book was a pleasure to read.

Dietes

Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this amazing book

wow where to start...without giving any clues away...

we have harper a journalist who investigates crime, who is also recovering from her gun shot wound given to her by her mentor smith...who happened to be a police officer and is now in prison...

harper is chilling with her mate at a bar when she is called away to a murder scene, whilst at that scene she happens to see the victim and can identify her

the police are interested in the victims boyfriend for this murder...

what follows next is an amazing story written so well that you are drawn into the characters and you can feel their pain and anguish... loved how all the characters worked and how the story was drawn together

a brilliantly written murder mystery by a new author for me but one i am going to be following in the future...cant wait for the next book in this series

Thanks to Netgalley for my copy of what is the second in a series, featuring crime writer Harper McClain and set in Savannah, but it reads just as well as a standalone novel and will draw you in and have you desperate for the third.

A well written plot, not 'too American', as some can be, but realistic all the same. A twisting tale incorporating murder and violent threats which will reel you in from the beginning. If you enjoy murder thrillers then you will find this story more than satisfying. A great, compelling read with three dimensional characters.

The first book that I have read by Christi and certainly won't be the last. Gripped from start to end. Highly recommended

I really enjoyed this crime novel set in Savannah, USA. It was a different perspective with the main character being a journalist rather than a police officer, although Savannah Police Department is very involved. Harper McClain is determined to solve the crime, especially as she knows the victim, and her journalistic senses tell her the boyfriend is not the killer. There are so many undercurrents, with Harper being out of favour with the police, following a huge case which was the focus of the first book in the series. She battles on regardless. I was left wanting more and to see how / if the story of Harper and Luke works out, so will be looking for the next release by Christi Daugherty. I didn't realise at first that this was the second Harper McClain book, and I read the Echo Killing and now I'm right up to date. #netgalley #abeautifulcorpse

It’s the first in a while that I’ve considered cancelling a diary appointment to finish a book. I was loving this one from the start but from about 70% in I really didn’t want to put it down. Harper McClain is a great character and as someone who reads a lot of crime fiction it’s a welcome change to have a crime reporter as lead character. Of course I should have started with book 1 but this worked fine as a standalone and this was so good that I’ll be reading The Echo Killing as soon as I can. This is a series that I’m keen to follow and highly recommend it.

A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty was a brilliant read and enjoyed every page. This is the Second book of the Harper McClain series and it could easily be read as a stand alone book. Her first book was The Echo Killing and that was a brilliant read as well. It was fast paced throughout and the characters were brilliant they all worked well together. Looking forward to the next book of this series.

Big Thank you to Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this brilliant book to read.
All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.

What a great read. I loved the character of Harper McClain, a feisty crime reporter who stops at nothing to get a great story and to uncover the truth. When a colleague of her best friend is shot dead late one night, she is determined to find the killer. The crime is not as straightforward as first appears and the search for answers leaves Harper vulnerable to those wishing her harm and without great headlines her job is also on the line. To make matters worse someone appears to be stalking her and possibly breaking into her home. The fear and stress leaves her exhausted but she continues to focus on getting justice. A well written story with strong characters, darkness and fear. I am only sorry I hadn’t read The Echo Killing, the first in this series before this. While knowing Harper’s previous history would have been an advantage, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this book and I look forward to reading the third. Many thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review.

Love love love Harper. Was so excited to read this book. Loved the first one and loved the second one. Characters are all so vivid, we all know or would like to know a Luke, want a bestie like Bonnie and a boss like Dells. Storyline was brilliant, proper is he going to get away with it or not. Really love these books and cannot wait for the third book to see if we uncover the truth about Harper's mum or will it leave more questions than answers. High five to the author for such a fab read.

I thoroughly enjoy reading Harper and her cases. This was as good as any other I have read. What appears to be a run of the mill event turns into something entirely different. Must read.

Harper McClain is a crime reporter on the local paper when Naomi Scott is shot. While trying to find out who killed her she is being stalked by someone who has broken into her apartment and moves things around. While at work office politics and imminent redundancies are not making her life any easier. When Naomi's boyfriend is arrested for her murder Harper is determined to help him.
This is a fast moving page turner which is easy to read and hard to put down.

This is the first book I’ve had the pleasure of reading from this author and I’m over the moon that I’ve once again taken a chance on a new author (to me!) and for it paying off immensely. Was a very intense read!

The characters were well thought out and brilliantly portrayed. I loved Harper and her stubbornness (it wasn’t OTT stubborn like a lot of authors write). Her personality, her persistence, is admirable. She doesn’t stop until she gets what she wants, until she can tell the whole story. And boy, did she uncover a ton of dirt!? I thought Luke was a bit of a douche-canoe but I’m going to go back and read the previous books so I can get a better idea of their previous relationship.

I’m devastated that this ended with a cliffhanger, even though it was a beautiful ending, it wasn’t an ending at all but - a BIG ‘but’ - it was done tastefully; it leaves the reader hanging but also makes us think and ask/answer our own questions until the next book hits the shops.

The storyline was absolutely incredible! The twists, the turns, were perfectly put together and executed, the investigation by Harper was so easy to follow that it made for an entertaining and joyous, though tense, read. I loved that is NEW readers get an insight into the previous books and that this one itself can be read as a standalone.

This authors penmanship was beautiful and definitely draws the readers in from the first word and right to the final one too. This author KNOWS how to hook a reader then spit them out to wait for the next one. Not many Crime authors can pull it off anymore but this one most definitely does.

Incredible, edge-of-your-dear worthy ready. Highly recommended to crime investigation readers. For fans of Patricia Cornwell, Kathy Reichs and Karin Slaughter.

Although this is the second book in The Harper McClain series but my first I didn’t have any problem settling into the story. Harper is a newspaper reporter that has that gut feeling when something just doesn’t sit right with a story. Within an hour of leaving a bar, that Harper and her bestie Bonnie were drinking in, a young law student Naomi Scott is shot down in the streets of Savannah and there isn’t any witnesses around. Harper, a woman who has always one eye on everyone else and an ear to the ground had sensed that Naomi, sat at the far end of the bar earlier in the evening, wasn’t happy about something as she text.
When she hears about the murder she is straight out to find out more and with a non too happy relationship with the local police soon finds that she is treading on toes without even putting a foot wrong! As bits of info filter through she discovers that Naomi’s phone is missing. Why would anyone want to murder a bright, beautiful, kind young woman? Harper is one hell of a reporter that just doesn’t ask if any progress has been made, she digs and pokes until she makes progress herself.
This is a brilliant story from a new prospective as Harper can push the law to the ultimate and a little further, the only problem is she hasn’t got anyone to watch her back all the time. I took to Harper straight away with her sassy ways that won’t let her back down. The story is constantly busy with her personal life being as scary as her time reporting. There has been history between Luke one of the detectives working the murder case and her in the past, so can she trust him? Strange things are happening in her life.
The author had herself been a journalist for a number of years, reporting on murder cases from a pretty young age. This shows in the credible story line and total captivation of any reader that will begin this book. The story has plenty to carry on with already for the next gem to be written. Very much on my list of one to watch out for.

Harper McClain is a crime reported for a Savannah newspaper and in this novel pursues justice in a murder case where the police are struggling to find a perpetrator.

This is the second book featuring Harper. I haven't read the first but this one worked well as a standalone novel Echos to what must have been the content of the first novel are sufficiently explained that it doesn't matter when one has not read it.

There are sufficient twists and turns in the story and the back story of Harper which runs through this book, and I assume the previous, do not interfere with the main tale. The cast of characters is varied and enjoyable to read.

Recommended reading.

A great crime novel which keeps you interested and the story leaves you wanting more.... A must read and roll on the next one!

Enjoyed reading this book, it was fast paced and kept me thinking about what would happen next. The characters are well thought out and relatable. I did guess the killer very quickly and worked out how it happened, but that didn’t detract from the reading in any way, and if anything encouraged me to finish this faster to see if I was right. I would recommend this as a good read to anyone looking for a good thriller.

4 stars from me

Harper McClain is a fab character who has turned my viewpoint of reporters on its head. Usually the 'hacks' are blood thirsty vultures portrayed as despicable figures feasting on the raw misery of others, whereas Harper brings a whole new take to the role.She is a great character anyway, and highly likeable, but her reason for chasing the story comes across as helpful, caring and to the benefit of the victim, their family and the investigative team - it's made me think again about journalists.Great story, I loved how and where it was set and I will certainly look out for more by this author.

Synopsis: From Christi Daugherty, author of The Echo Killing, comes another pulse-pounding suspenseful thriller featuring crime reporter Harper McClain.For a woman, being killed by someone who claims to love her is the most ordinary murder of all.With its antebellum houses and ancient oak trees draped in a veil of Spanish moss, Savannah’s graceful downtown is famous around the world. When a woman is killed in the heart of that affluent district, the shock is felt throughout the city. But for crime reporter Harper McClain, this story is personal. The corpse has a familiar face.Only twenty-four years old, Naomi Scott was just getting started. A law student, tending bar to make ends meet, she wanted to change the world. Instead, her life ended in the dead of night at the hands of an unseen gunman. There are no witnesses to the crime. The police have three suspects: Scott’s boyfriend, who has a criminal past he claims he’s put behind him, her boss, who stalked another young bartender two years ago, and the district attorney’s son, who Naomi dated until their relationship ended in acrimony. All three men claim to love her. Could one of them be her killer?With the whole city demanding answers, Harper unravels a tangled story of obsession and jealousy. But the pressures on her go beyond the murder. The newspaper is facing more layoffs. Her boss fears both their jobs are on the line. And Harper begins to realize that someone is watching her every move. Someone familiar and very dangerous.Someone who told her to run before it’s too late…