Early Review: Like This, For Ever

Like This, For Ever (Lacey Flint #3)

S.J. Bolton

(Published as Lost in the US)

Publisher: Random House: Released 14th April 2013

E-Arc Courtesy of Netgalley and Random House UK

A serial killer is being closely watched by one young boy.
Barney knows the killer will strike again soon. The victim will be another boy, just like him. He will drain the body of blood, and leave it on a Thames beach.
There will be no clues for detectives Dana Tulloch and Mark Joesbury to find.There will be no warning about who will be next.
There will be no good reason for young policewoman Lacey Flint to become involved . . . And no chance that she can stay away.

S.J. Bolton has once again delivered a hauntingly tense and atmospheric mystery that is very difficult to put down or even stop thinking about. I always find myself pondering over her stories days after the final page and the crimes seem to linger in my head for far longer than I would like! Without a doubt she has a way of sneaking into my head, playing with my expectations and twisting everything around. For a modern crime thriller, the plot is surprisingly creepy and timeless while the mixture of characters and action blend together seemlessly.

While this is the third book to feature Lacey Flint, this is more of an ensemble piece with Dana Tulloch taking the lead on the murder of five young boys in South London, all found near the river. Lacey is still struggling to come to terms with the events of Now You See Me and Dead Scared, but even if you haven’t read those books, you can start here. SJ Bolton deftly explores how damaged Lacey is without regurgitating the previous stories plots – and for those of us who have read them, there are some great ‘Easter eggs’ in the terms of a couple of cameos who play important parts to the story. Dana Tulloch makes a memorable co-lead and a unique character – being both compassionate and fierce. It’s great seeing two leading female characters that are tough and independent, yet still different in personality in a detective novel.

Added to the two female leads, the other main characters is Barney, a nine year old kid who is smart but emotionally detached. He is a balanced counter-point to the adult view of the murders and gives a street view insight into the atmosphere of those most at risk during some high profile cases. While the characters are all strong and easy to connect with, it is the ever-changing plot that drives the story forward. There are numerous red-herrings and I found myself continually changing my mind about who the killer(s) is/are.

Once again the descriptions of London are a wonderful background to an intense murder mysery and some deceptively gruesome murders and ideas are played with. The involvement of social media like Facebook makes the story even more creepy and intense. I could barely bring myself to stop reading and was on edge for the final hundred pages as I was so involved with the plot. Tense, gripping and beautifully written, this is a murder mystery that stands out in a crowded genre.

Recommended for fans of Amanda Stevens and Chris Carter. 9 out of 10