Title: Pop Goes the Weasel
Series: Helen Grace (Book # 2)
Author: M.J. Arlidge
Description: The body of a middle-aged man is discovered in
Southampton’s red-light district, horrifically mutilated, with his heart
removed. Hours later, the heart arrives with his wife and children by courier. A
pattern emerges when another male victim is found dead and eviscerated, his
heart delivered soon afterwards. The media call is Jack the Ripper in reverse;
revenge against the men who lead sordid double lives visiting prostitutes. For
detective Helen Grace, only one thing is certain: there’s a vicious
serial-killer at large who must be halted at all costs.
Review: In Southampton the body of a man is found in an abandoned building. Not much
later, a gruesome package is delivered to his wife and children, which turns
out to contain his heart. When soon a second victim is found, Inspector Helen
Grace turns out to be dealing with a serial killer, a prostitute who cuts her
clients open and robs them of their hearts. The media soon make their own story
out of it and not everyone in the network seems to want to cooperate. It remains
to be seen whether Inspector Helen Grace succeeds in catching the culprit
before more victims fall.
In the beginning of the book, you are immediately gripped by tension. Two
bodies are found in one day and immediately, as a reader, wonder if they are
linked. They take place in the same environment but otherwise seem to have no
similarities. You only get a glimpse of the perpetrator which quickly leaves
you with hundreds of questions that you don’t seem to be able to answer in the
first few moments. M.J. Arlidge leaves you in the dark and manages to build up
the tension nicely.
The story contains many short chapters in which the perspective changes
between different characters of the police force, the victims and the
perpetrator. You get to know all the characters in small bits and each time you
discover something new in the next chapter. In this way you get a good picture
of the characters without it getting boring.
M.J. Arlidge manages to leave you in ignorance until the end. you think
you know the perpetrator and her motive, but nothing is further from the truth.
“Pop Goes to the Weasel” is an innovative book, a female serial killer is not a
common. The book is exciting from start to finish and I’m really loving this
Helen Grace-series. Book number 3 and 4 are already on my TBR-pile.
Rating: 4,5/ 5
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