For as much as it's being hyped as something wholly new in crime thriller fiction, Eeny Meeny feels an awfully lot like something that might come from the mind of Val McDermid - and while that might mean that this isn't that original or groundbreaking, it means that it's still awfully satisfying and engaging. Eeny Meeny revolves around a serial killer of a unique variety: she (and it's evident early on that we're dealing with a female perpetrator) abducts pairs of people, and leaves them stranded and starving until one kills the other. It's grim stuff, and Aldridge does the scenario right, diving into the desperation and horror that would come in such a situation until we understand how normal people could be driven to violence and murder when forced. And, to her credit, Aldridge rarely gets ghoulish about it; only one abduction, near the book's end, gets graphic or grotesque to the point of being a little over the top. Instead, Aldridge anchors her story in damaged psyches, never letting us forget the damage suffered by the surviving victims or the pain felt by those closest to the abductees. But more than that, Aldridge explores the minds of her heroes and lets them be just as damaged, most notably her heroine, Helen Grace. Grace is the one who most reminds me of McDermid, as her deeply traumatic past - which we touch on throughout the book - leads her to find therapy in a most unusual manner. And even the supporting characters get their chances, dealing with bad divorces, illicit romances, and more. If there's a knock to be had about Eeny Meeny, it would be that everyone gets their own trauma, but it's hard to complain too much when Aldridge handles them all well and gives them the weight and respect they deserve. Eeny Meeny is solid stuff, and if it's not quite as groundbreaking as all the cover quotes would have you believe - the characters, while rich, are nothing truly new, and the plot is satisfying while never feeling really shocking - it's still a solid, engaging read, and the kind of thing that will make thriller readers happy this summer on the beach. It moves fast, it's engaging and well-written, and it's nice to find a book that allows death to have some weight instead of just being a plot mechanism. Aldridge plans on more books with Helen Grace, and I think the best thing I can say is that I definitely plan on reading more; while this one is solid, I think there's room for growth, and I'm eager to see where Aldridge goes from here.
- Josh Mauthe
- Josh Mauthe
