By: Mark Edwards
ISBN: 978-1477848272
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Publication Date: 6/15/2017
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Stars It was the happiest day of her life. Little did she know it was also the last. When a woman’s body is found in the grounds of a ruined priory, Detective Imogen Evans realises she is dealing with a serial killer—a killer whose victims appear to die in a state of bliss, eyes open, smiles forever frozen on their faces.
A few miles away, single dad Ben Hofland believes his fortunes are changing at last. Forced to move back to the sleepy village where he grew up following the breakdown of his marriage, Ben finally finds work. What’s more, the bullies who have been terrorising his son, Ollie, disappear. For the first time in months, Ben feels lucky.
But he is unaware that someone is watching him and Ollie. Someone who wants nothing but happiness for Ben.
Happiness…and death.
The Lucky Ones is the terrifying new thriller from the #1 Kindle bestselling author of Follow You Home and The Devil’s Work.
Buy the Book
My Review
Bestselling author, Mark Edwards returns following (2016) The Devil’s Work with his latest THE LUCKY ONES a twisty psycho-thriller featuring a serial killer who wants his victims to die happy.
Perfectly happy and ready to die. A killer who tries to make his victims’ lives perfect before he kills them.
Set in Shropshire, we meet a detective, an average man who desires a better life, and a killer. Told from different POVs with two parts.
Who will be “The Lucky Ones?” Does he "make" them happy? How does the murderer know what needs fixing in their lives?
Detective Imogen Evans knew bodies were not discovered in picturesque places like this. Her first serial killer, the man the tabloids called the Shropshire Viper had struck –a snake, fangs glistening with venom for the third time.
A killer who likes a little cocktail of morphine to keep his victims smiling.
Ben Holland is newly separated (cheating wife), raising an eleven-year-old son, Ollie on his own. Things are not going well and his finances are strained. His mom has terminal cancer. He is down on his luck. However, soon his luck may change.
The killer is one evil guy (of course Edwards is no stranger to unique twists). The Viper wants his victims to die in bliss. He wants them to die happy. He manipulates their lives and circumstances and turns their life around, to end their life on a good note.
There does not seem to be a link between the victims and DI Inspector Imogen Evans is driven to solve this crime before he strikes next. The Secret of Happy Place.
Why does their body turn up in their “happy place?”
Intense! If you are a fan of talented "thriller King", Mark Edwards— you have come to expect gripping, entertaining and a well-crafted twisty plot with characters who come alive on the page.
From suspenseful plotting and solid character development, this complex fast-paced page-turner will keep fans reading into the wee hours of the morning— nothing predictable here!
Top-of-the-line thriller writing with remarkable skill. For fans of Stephen King, Linwood Barclay, Paul Cleave, and Jennifer Hillier. For new readers who enjoy a mix of crime, humor, and psychological— suspense, mystery, horror, and thriller.
If you have not read Follow You Home (2015), highly recommend —one of my favorites! Top Books of 2015.
A special thank you to Thomas & Mercer for an early reading copy.
Also purchased the audiobook narrated by Simon Mattacks for an edge-of-your-seat chilling performance.
Review Links:
Praise
It was the happiest day of her life. Little did she know it was also the last.
“Chilling, fast-paced, and unpredictable. I couldn't put it down!”
—Robert Bryndza, author of The Girl in the Ice
“Another gripping read from Mark Edwards.”
—Howard Linskey, author of No Name Lane
“Tight plot, engaging characters, beautifully drawn setting.…Another compulsive domestic noir from the British Linwood Barclay.”
—Ed James, author of The Hope That Kills
“Another compellingly twisty read from Mark Edwards. They just get better and better.”
—Sibel Hodge, author of Duplicity
“A terrific, tense read with a great twist.”
—Sarah Lotz, author of The Three
“…Written with such verve and wit, it makes multiple murder enormous fun.”
—The Sunday Mirror
“[Edwards’s] most cunning offering…This page-turner…is a solid entrant into the psycho-killer canon.”
—Shots Magazine
About the Author
Mark Edwards writes psychological thrillers in which scary things happen to ordinary people and is inspired by writers such as Stephen King, Ira Levin, Ruth Rendell and Linwood Barclay.
His first solo novel, The Magpies (2013), reached the No.1 spot on Amazon UK and has sold 300,000 copies to date. This was followed by What You Wish For (2014), Because She Loves Me (2014; also a No.1 bestseller in the UK) and Follow You Home (2015).
He also co-writes with Louise Voss. Their novels are: Killing Cupid (2011); Catch Your Death (2011); All Fall Down (2012); Forward Slash and a series featuring Detective Inspector Patrick Lennon, starting with From the Cradle (2014) and The Blissfully Dead (2015). Read more about Voss & Edwards. Mark grew up on the south coast of England and starting writing in his twenties while working in a number of dead-end jobs. He lived in Tokyo for a year before returning to the UK and starting a career in marketing. He now writes full-time and lives in the West Midlands, England, with his wife, their three children and a ginger cat, Billie, who was named after an actress from Doctor Who.
When he’s not writing or looking after children, Mark reads a lot, devours TV box sets and spends far too much time on Twitter and Facebook, where he loves chatting with readers. He also wishes he had more time to do the activity he loves most: karaoke. Read more
