I'm not usually one for mysteries but The Next One to Fall caught my eye for a couple of reasons.First it is set in Peru with most of the story taking place at Machu Picchu or in Cusco, places that I visited back in 2001.
The second reason is that it is by a writer from Toronto, Hilary Davidson, who won the 2011 Anthony Award for Best First Novel and the Crimespree Award for Best First Mystery! She also was a finalist for the Arthur Ellis Award from the Crime Writers of Canada.
Travel writer Lily Moore has been persuaded by her closest friend, photographer Jesse Robb, to visit Peru with him. Jesse is convinced that the trip will lure Lily out of her dark mood, but Lily is haunted by betrayal and loss. At Machu Picchu, the famous Lost City of the Incas, they discover a woman clinging to life at the bottom of an ancient stone staircase. Just before the woman dies, she tells Lily the name of the man who pushed her.
When the local police investigate, the forensic evidence they find doesn't match what Lily knows. Unable to accept the official ruling of accidental death, Lily hunts down the wealthy man who was the dead woman's traveling companion and discovers a pattern of dead and missing women in his wake.
Obsessed with getting justice for these women, Lily sets in motion a violent chain of events that will have devastating consequences.
This was a well-done book for the most part. I could buy into how Lily Moore could be sucked into the chain of events that revolved around the death of the girl she found. I enjoyed how her character became stronger as the story went on and also found Jesse to be very likable.
What I didn't like was the ending. I found it a little farfetched and over the top. I found the ending quite disappointing. I hope Teena reads this to let me know what she thinks as it is a well-constructed mystery.
1 comment:
I started it but didn't like the writing style ... so didn't get too far into it.
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