CRIME SERIES RECOMMENDATION:
M. J. Arlidge's DI Helen Grace Series
I was introduced to the Helen Grace books back in the fall of 2015, and I've been a consistent reader of this series ever since. This series is pure entertainment: these crime books are fast-paced, totally binge-worthy, and read like a TV cop drama. If you're in the market for a crime series that will completely hook you, I highly recommend M. J. Arlidge's Helen Grace books. Read on for more details!
So far in the U.S., the Helen Grace series is comprised of 4 books -- the fifth book, LITTLE BOY BLUE, will release from Berkley on 10/4. In order, the books are:
EENY MEENY, POP GOES THE WEASEL, THE DOLL'S HOUSE, and LIAR LIAR
Now, I'll be honest: when I first began reading EENY MEENY, I was concerned it was going to be too "fluffy" for my taste. I'm usually a fan of denser, grittier crime fiction, and EENY MEENY intentionally doesn't have the depth or rich characterization that I usually look for in a book. But I quickly discovered that there is most definitely something to be said for a series that just fully draws you in and won't let you go. Arlidge knows exactly what he's doing with his series: he gives you sparse yet appropriately-timed information on each character's backstory, and masterfully weaves a series that is just begging to be devoured.
I'm now an avid reader of the Helen Grace books, and always rely on this series to deliver a fast-paced binge read. Bonus: this series gets better as it goes on. I liked EENY MEENY, thoroughly enjoyed POP GOES THE WEASEL, and absolutely loved THE DOLL'S HOUSE. (Admittedly, LIAR LIAR wasn't my favorite - but I have high hopes for LITTLE BOY BLUE.)
Fans of TV cop dramas (think CSI and Criminal Minds), and readers of James Patterson and Patricia Cornwell will devour Arlidge's modern take on a series detective. DI Helen Grace is a strong, flawed, deliciously complex woman—a heroine fully deserving of your reading list.
For my full thoughts on each book, check out my individual reviews of each title!
EENY MEENY / POP GOES THE WEASEL / THE DOLL'S HOUSE / LIAR LIAR