This month’s best read is a psychological thriller, She Did It, by Mel Sherratt. This author, who I have a met a few times on the writers’ circuit, has sold a whopping one million books (and counting) since she started her career in 2012. She describes her books as ‘grit-lit’ – gritty crime dramas and fiction with a punch. Mel also writes romance under the name Marcie Steele. Mel describes Marcie’s books as ‘not so much rom-com as chick-grit.’
Twists and turns
Strong female leads
London setting
I loved the London setting of the novel. Since I moved here some seven years ago, I’ve found myself writing books set in this vibrant city. In She Did It, we see both the well-heeled part of town in Tamara’s story as well as the seedy underbelly of the city that Esther has experienced with its prostitution, drug abuse and bodies found in shady alleyways. Luckily, I’ve not had much contact with the latter, and little of the former, but I love reading about both!
Believable police
Tight plot and great pace
Just enough violence and sex
Another aspect of this psychological thriller I like is that the violence isn’t too gory. There are no hugely drawn-out scenes of torture. The killings are very much described on the emotional level. I particularly liked the way both the women’s thoughts were examined by the author during and after any violence. The sex scenes are also just right – and this again is a talent in itself. Writing too much is such a temptation, as is glossing over amorous, or violent, sex episodes altogether.
Great conclusion
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