The Rundown
The compelling first-person narration from the mind of a killer drew me straight into this unusual thriller. A Secondhand Life begins with a serial killer slaughtering his first victim, 12-year-old Alexis. On the same night that Alexis is murdered, 12-year-old Mia is badly hurt in the car accident that kills her father and ends up being the recipient of Alexis’s donated heart. Fast forward to the present day and thirty-something Mia is beginning to have memories which are not hers. With the killer still at large, and innocent young girls being stabbed to death by someone they appeared to trust, Mia feels compelled to place herself in danger in order to discover the identity of the killer.
Examining the complex and intriguing phenomena of ‘organ memory’, the plot revolves around Mia deciding to try to solve the murders, with Alexis’s memories aiding her investigation. Mia has gruesome visions of the girls dying, and is trapped in their skin, witnessing what they saw before they died. Her research and prying eventually lead her to the family of the first victim, Alexis. Are they hiding something? Suddenly everyone is a potential suspect, from the suspected child molester down the road, to members of Alexis’s family, and even the investigating officer on the case.
There are certainly enough twists, turns and red herrings in this novel to keep the reader guessing and turning the pages. The pace is steady, and the plot complex but not overwhelming. I particularly appreciated the way the author suggested the culpability of the each of the suspects without really ramming it down your throat. It was all very subtle and I really had no clue as to the identity of the killer until it was actually revealed. I enjoyed the killers narrative and thought this was done astonishingly well; his reasons for killing are unusual and cleverly explored. It was eerie and disturbing to climb inside his mind and witness the twisted way he sees the world. He also appeared rather innocent at times, which was interesting. I know this is book two in a series (although it works perfectly as a stand-alone) and the killer’s perspective has me curious about book one. I was slightly less convinced by Mia’s narration. Something about her constantly witty take on everything grated on me a little and she seemed a lot younger than thirty-four to me. But nevertheless, this is a great and solid read, and anyone who enjoys crime thrillers will really get a lot out of this.
The Recommendation
A compelling thriller with twists and turns, A Secondhand Life explores the theory of ‘organ memory’, when Mia, the recipient of a murder victims’ donated heart, begins to experience memories of the night she was killed. Determined to piece together the clues and the bring the killer to justice, Mia places herself and her loved ones in danger to reach the truth. A great pacy thriller with a genuinely shocking ending.
The Rating
4 Stars (out of 5): Recommended. For the right audience, this book is a great read. It can hold its own against any traditionally published novel in its genre.
The Pros & Cons
Pros: Page Turner, Plot, Strong World-Building, Surprise EndingCons: Character Developement, Dialogue
