Eeny Meeny by M. J. Arlidge (Photo from personal collection)
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The central theme of Eeny Meeny is a dark and terrible question - how much could you endure before you would commit a horrible act?
A killer is abducting people in pairs, holding them captive, and forcing them to choose which of them lives and which of them dies. And, on the hunt for this monster, is DI Helen Grace, and her team, a DI who has her own demons, which she manages in her own way - the infliction of pain.
Throughout the novel runs a theme of people trying to cope with their demons. From the victims of the killer, to the killer too, who has taken the darkest of routes. But there are also the members of DI Grace's team, with their own pains and losses they are trying to navigate. DS Mark Fuller's problems with his ex-partner have seen him falling into a bottle. And then there is Helen Grace, dealing with emotional pains through the infliction of physical pain upon herself.
Yes, this novel could be considered an exploration into the ways which people further their own misery, through the unhealthy ways in which they manage troubles and pains.
This novel, Eeny Meeny, was the first Helen Grace novel, and it spawned a successful series. And, as I found out, back in March, when I had a little Q&A exchange with the author, M. J. Arlidge actively enjoys exploring those dark corners of what it is to be human. You can read that interview here.
In Helen Grace, Arlidge has created a unique and fascinating character. She does not turn to drink or drugs, like other fictional detectives before her, to deal with the darkness in her life. She controls inner torment with physical torment. She is a matter-of-fact woman, devoted to her work. But, though she gives little away to her colleagues, there are signs of a deeper and richer inner life to DI Grace. Signs of a good and caring heart.
She is a character I find myself wanting to know better.
The book is fast-paced, with chapters short and delivering only what is necessary to tell the story - there is little fat here on this lean tale. I used to read quite a lot of crime fiction when I was younger, and this novel reminded me of why. I really enjoyed Eeny Meeny and, since I read the book, other novels in the DI Helen Grace series have been added to my bookshelves.
You can purchase Eeny Meeny by M. J. Arlidge here
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