A Gift For Dying by MJ Arlidge

I'm delighted to be taking part in the tour for this great standalone thriller from MJ Arlidge. Huge thanks to Tracy Fenton for inviting me and to the publishers for my early review copy.

The Blurb:

From The Sunday Times bestselling author of the Helen Grace series comes the gripping new thriller perfect for fans of James Patterson, Angela Marsons and Karin Slaughter.

'Strikingly well-told, and with a compelling central character' Daily Mail

With just one look, she knows how and when you will die . . .

Nothing surprises Adam Brandt anymore. As a forensic psychologist, he's seen and heard everything.

That is, until he meets Kassie.

Because she claims to have a terrible gift - with one look into your eyes, she can see when and how you will die.

Adam doesn't believe her, obviously.

But then a serial killer starts wreaking havoc across the city, and only Kassie seems to know where he'll strike next.

Against all his intuition, Adam starts to believe her.

He just doesn't realise how dangerous this trust might be . . .

A Gift For Dying was published by Penguin Random House on 7th March 2019. You can purchase it from Waterstones, Amazon and other good bookshops.


My Review:

A Gift For Dying is my first MJ Arlidge book, but it won't be my last!  Based on this, I will be seeking out the Helen Grace books.

Adam is an experienced psychologist used to dealing with the worst in society. Kassie is a teenager with a terrible gift, or maybe she's just delusional. Adam needs to find out. But she does seem to have a link to some terrible crimes...

The characterisation in this book is great. Kassie is a hugely relatable, sympathetic character, especially. I connected with her early on, and really cared about her. She tries so hard to do the right thing, but is so often thwarted. I was sad for her from the beginning, with her difficult relationship with her mum, and the huge burden and carried, and that sympathy lasted until the end of the book. She's a fantastic character.

My feelings towards Adam changed depending on where I was in the book. Sometimes I was cheering him on, at other times he made me sad and occasionally I got cross at him! His fortunes change dramatically during the course of the story, along with his capacity to deal with things. But that I was so invested in the characters is testament to the quality of writing. And we see the changing relationship, between Adam and Kassie.

The tension builds perfectly from the beginning to the shattering ending. I loved the police investigation into the murders, and the description of the killings themselves, which are just graphic enough, without being too much. The police personnel are pretty unsympathetic, and for me this increased Kassie's vulnerability.

I really enjoyed this book. It's long, but with short snappy chapters. It completely kept my attention, as I was desperate to find out what happened next. As well as keeping me on the edge of my seat, it also broke my heart. Would heartily recommend.


The Author:

M. J. Arlidge is the international bestselling author of the Detective Helen Grace Thrillers, including Hide and Seek, Little Boy Blue, Liar Liar, The Doll’s House, Pop Goes the Weasel, and his debut, Eeny Meeny, which has been sold in twenty-nine countries. He has worked in television for the past fifteen years.