My friend Philip (PJ) Vernon’s debut novel, WHEN YOU FIND ME, is a surefire pleaser for fans of “girl noir” authors like Gillian Flynn.
This Southern Gothic noir is a thriller told from the points of view of Gray, an alcoholic heiress coming home to visit her ancestral home for the holidays; Nina, a detective investigating the sudden disappearance of Gray’s husband Paul; and Annie, who either knows or may even be responsible for the disappearance.
Right up front, I have to say this genre isn’t my thing, I’m not its intended market. Still, I read the story thoroughly enjoying the execution and core mystery behind the disappearance. The setting, characterization (even the secondary characters), dialogue, pacing, and drip-by-drip reveals of everybody’s dirty little secrets are all spot on. I was honestly surprised this was a first novel, it’s so well done.
If you’d like to freshen up your “girl noir” reading with a seedy Southern Gothic take, check out WHEN YOU FIND ME.
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