The Associate: A Shanna Regan Murder Mystery by Victoria Goldman - #BookReview

Two fresh pig's ears, pink and plump, hang from a rusty wall light. Blood trickles down into a shiny red pool on the yellowing flagstones.

For years I explored the globe, tracking down news stories. But I don't need to travel far to see the worst of human nature, it seems. Sometimes it's right on my doorstep.

Rubberneckers jostle around me, peering through the black railings. A small crowd - ten, maybe fifteen. Some cheering, some jeering, some seeming as bewildered as I am.

A handful carry white placards...

***

THE BODY COUNT IS RISING ... AND GETTING FAR TOO CLOSE

A missing architect. An interfaith charity project. Vandalism and online threats. Can racist slogans lead to kidnap – or even murder?

When an architect vanishes in East London, her concerned fiancé asks journalist Shanna Regan to find her. The missing woman has been leading an interfaith Jewish-Muslim charity project that’s become the target of malicious damage and racist threats.

After Shanna witnesses a teenage girl fall to her death, she’s convinced the architect’s disappearance is also linked to a local youth outreach project. And then another woman is reported missing.

Amid rising local tensions, danger appears to be lurking around every corner. Even the safest sanctuaries seem to be hiding the darkest secrets. As Shanna uncovers a tangled web of lies, she puts her own life on the line. Will she find the missing architect before it’s too late?

The Associate is the compelling and thought-provoking sequel to The Redeemer.

***

This book is the second in the Shanna Regan series. It follows on from The Redeemer, which began Shanna's story. If you would like to read my review of The Redeemer you can find it by clicking here.

Whilst The Redeemer was an excellent debut, in The Associate, we find the author appearing more self-assured and mature in her writing. She has given us an accomplished novel which I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

It is an engaging and compelling story centred around a Jewish and Muslim community project, and which serves to highlight the commonalities surrounding the two religions rather than their differences. For some readers this will provide an illustrative and educational aspect to the story which the author accomplishes without being remotely preachy.

Rather, it is built around a believable story and setting with a plot with sufficient twists and turns to keep the reader enthralled. There is a tension, mystery and suspense throughout. With the theme of asylum seekers, gun crime and gang culture included this is a very relevant story.

Shanna is a fantastic character. She is a bold and determined woman who deals with her own flaws and insecurities. I enjoyed her backstory playing out alongside the plot of the book.  Any reader who has ever questioned where they come from will readily identify with Shanna.

The Associate is a well written and engaging book. I certainly hope that this is not the last of Shanna, and that the talented Ms. Goldman will be bringing us another book in the series.

I highly recommend this book.

ISBN: 978 1739695439

Publisher:  Three Crowns Publishing UK

Formats:  e-book and paperback

No. of Pages:  328 (paperback)

About the Author:

VICTORIA GOLDMAN is a freelance journalist, editor and proofreader. She was given an honourable mention for The Redeemer in the Capital Crime/DHH Literary Agency New Voices Award 2019 and was shortlisted for Best Debut Crime Novel of 2022 in the Crime Fiction Lover Awards.

Victoria lives in Hertfordshire with her husband and two sons. The Associate is her second novel in the Shanna Regan series.

Victoria also featured here on the blog with her top eight books she would take with her to a desert island. You can read this feature by clicking here.

(ARC courtesy of the author)

(all opinions are my own)

October 2020 Roundup

 

Here in the UK Halloween is not celebrated on the same scale as it is in the US. However, I really missed seeing the children all dressed up in their costumes this year and knocking on the door for their treats. There did seem to be several people letting off fireworks though which was nice to watch from the warmth and comfort of home. However, my dog was singularly unimpressed and I did not quite have the heart to explain to him that fireworks will probably be a feature now until after 5th November. He did settle down for a biscuit and a tummy rub so it was all good.

I suppose I could have celebrated Halloween by reading scary books. It's confession time - horror is probably the only genre that I do not read. Neither do I watch scary films. I am a complete coward when it comes to reading or watching anything that will scare me.

Instead, I read books that I found I could absorb myself in. Goodness knows, we certainly need some distraction at the moment. How about you, did you read anything scary this month?

I would love to hear which books have been reading this month.

Books I Have Read This Month

The Weaker Vessel, Woman's Lot in Seventeenth Century England: Part One by Antonia Fraser - This book took me ages to read but was extremely good. I have Part Two sitting on my shelf which I will progress to quite soon.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo by Christy Lefteri - I enjoyed this very much.

The Power by Naomi Alderman - I read this book with my book group and opinions were polarised. For me, it was a brilliant book and I highly recommend it.

A Village Vacancy by Julie Houston - I love this author's books and this one was no exception. My reviews of her previous novels Goodness, Grace and Me can be found here and Sing Me a Secret here.

The Night of the Burning: Devorah's Story by Linda Press Wulf - This Young Adult novel was well worth reading.

State of Wonder by Ann Patchett - This was my favourite novel this month. Every word had meaning and it was beautifully written.

Surgeon's Hall  by E. S. Thomson - This is part four of the Jem Flockhart series. I have read the previous three novels in the series, all of which have been good. My review of Beloved Poison which is the first in the series (and worth reading as it explains the background of Jem) can be found here.

Books I Did Not Finish

Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - I have been wanting to read this for such a long time and finally got to it. However, I just could not get into it and I may well give it another try sometime.

Books I Am Part Way Through

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

A History of Death in 17th Century England by Ben Norman