Member Reviews
Private investigator, Lucy Kendall in on the tail of a convicted child abuser. Ready to deliver her punishment she returns to the seat he had been sat in only to find another man and this one knows who she is and what she does.
Kailey is an 8 year old girl who loves pink. She lives with her mum and although her mum Jenna works long hours, they are close. So when Kailey is due home early but doesn’t show up the hunt is on. But who is responsible for taking the missing child? Is it the convicted child murderer across the street or one of the other suspects in Lucy’s sight? And will she get to Kailey before it’s too late?
TRIGGER WARNING
There is mention of suicide and child abuse in this book which may upset some readers.
This is book one in the series and in places has some dark subjects covered. However the subjects aren’t very graphic and with the story being based on the fact Lucy used to work for child protective services and is now a vigilante of sorts, it all fits well within the plot.
I really enjoyed the story and found I was jumping between people who I suspected, I’m pretty sure I suspected every character somewhere along the way. The story was faced paced from start to finish and held my attention throughout with the many twists and turns. I’m looking forward to moving straight onto book two.
The firs book in the Lucy Kendall series takes the reader to a dark reality of people who have abused children, and some people, who are avenging, and the outcome is death. Lucy is a Private Investigator, but her focus is to seek and destroy.
This is an interesting story, and I like the different point of view, since the reader finds out from the beginning what Lucy is about. She works "together" with the police at times, but she is also in their way a lot. The police is looking for an 8-year-old girl who has disappeared. They find much more than they were looking for, but they also know they haven't found everything.
I like the book, and I think this series has a lot of potential, but it was a bit repetitive, and at times I am not sure I fully bought what happened. Nonetheless, it is an intriguing read, and I cannot wait to get to know Lucy and her demons better!
Woah, this one left me saying what did I just read?
Lucy Kendall is a private investigator and is looking for a missing child. She hunts down child predators and what she does to them is well deserved. I really like Lucy, she is very troubled and you can feel her pain.
The plot was very intense and disturbing, but kept me glued to the spot, I literally read this in one sitting, I had to get to see how it all ended.
This is going to be a very good series, can’t wait to read the next one.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this one,
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read the first of a new series by a favourite author - Stacy Green.
This one is not for the faint of heart! Lucy Kendall is a former Child Protective Services officer, disillusioned by the system, who sets out on her own as a Private Investigator; but not your run-of-the-mill PI. Lucy finds and eliminates perpetrators who have 'gamed' the system and continue their evil ways.
When a little girl vanishes, and it is revealed that a convicted child-murderer has been released back into society, Lucy is determined to be a part of the investigation, bring the little girl home, and see the man back behind bars.
But, that's not exactly how it goes.
At its heart, this is a dark and unsettling book all about abuse and the toll it takes. Not for the faint of heart.
This is the first book of Lucy Kendall series. Having read Agent Nikki Hunt series written by the same author, I got interested in reading this series as well.
In this series, Lucy Kendall is a private investigator who used to work for child protection services in Philadelphia but quit after working for ten years when she couldn't tolerate the amount of child abuse she had faced in her cases. Kailey Richardson is an eight-year-old girl who wore her new pink colored shoes on the day and never entered into the school building--she was abducted. Now Lucy who is tracking the pedophiles living in the area is determined to find Kailey safely before it is too late.
This series is a unique series I like how Lucy and Chris first acquainted with each other and that Lucy discovers a secret about Chris' family background--the fact that his father was a serial killer who abducted and killed girls and is serving life sentence behind the bars. I also like how she is working with Todd, the detective who is handling the case and how his half-brother Justin was once accused of killing a girl. However, towards the end only we see that there's a connection between those cases. I like how the author showed that connection. Also, this was fast paceed and unputdownable thriller that will keep you on the edge. and the twist at the end was completely unexpected. Overall, this book worth four stars!
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
The Girl with the Pink Shoes was a solid start to a new revenge thriller series and I am looking forward to hooking into the sequel Little Lost Souls.
Lucy is a great main character and her raga bond tribe all very likeable, with well set up back stories.
A quick read with short chapters, it involves a missing girl, the deplorables who prey on children, and those who hunt them.
Overall a thrilling 4.5 star read.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
T H I S I S B O O K 1 0 0 O F 2 0 2 2 ! 🎉
To be honest, it's really book 101 of 2022 as I've read the soon to be published latest thriller by Tomf Franks and when that one is out, get it! It's a great thriller!
This is a republished book by Stacy Green published by Bookouture and received it via Netgalley. It will be out on 30 January.
We follow private investigator Lucy Kendall who is quite invested in the disappearance of a little girl. She used to work for social services but she felt too helpless to actually achieve anything. That's why she turned into a PI. Being a PI gives her more liberties than she used to have and she knows how to use them. Her absolute focus is on finding the young missing girl. No matter what the cost will be.
This book was a bit of a slow start for me. It started excellent, but after a few chapters I couldn't really get into it. When I got halfway through it really caught me and I couldn't wait to finish it. I needed to find out what happened. I had to get used to the characters a bit, but especially Lucy grew on me. The story sometimes lacked believability at first, but managed to get back on track after half of the book. I still would like to read book 2 in the series and luckily I got it from Netgalley as well!
3,5/5 ⭐
My first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. A very dark, gritty thriller with plenty of twists to keep the reader gripped, although there is a lot of trauma/violence. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. Would recommend.
Formerly working in Child Protection services Lucy Kendall dealt with some heartbreaking cases. Leaving to save her sanity after a particular harrowing case she now works as a private investigator and a secret vigilante, taking her own revenge on depraved members of her society. So when she hears a young girl has gone missing close to where one of her former cases lives, she's admittedly suspicious of him.
This was a great read and introduction to Lucy. Not an easy read in places with descriptions of child abuse which may cause trigger issues but it's written empathetically and is integral to the story.
Looking forward to reading the rest in the series
Loved this book so much , first in the series and honestly could not put it down , full of dark twisty secrets , the author keeps you wanting more .
I will definitely be purchasing book 2 .
This is one of the best thrillers I have read. It's extremely dark and gritty at times. It's also well written and the descriptions are necessary to the story, not just put in for a shock factor. I was completely engrossed from page one. The characters are fantastic and complex. I love Lucy.
This series is all being released on the same day and I see why. I'm putting on the coffee and reading them back to back. I can't wait to see how this series plays out!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this book.
Lucy Kendall is a private detective by day, but by night she seeks out the most evil of society. Cyanide is her weapon of choice.
When a little girl goes missing near where a convicted paedophile lives, Lucy inserts herself onto the case. This is personal-Lucy worked for child protective services back when Justin committed his crime and actively spoke against his release from prison. The issue as Lucy sees it is, that the lead detective Todd, just happens to be the brother of Justin.
As the story progresses we learn more about Lucy and Justin’s history and the suicide of her sister, after being sexually assaulted, that motivates her to find these ‘pigs’.
This book was really different. It’s not often that the main character is a vigilante. I really enjoyed this. It kept me guessing to the end and looks to be a great series.
Thank you to #NetGalley for the copy of #TheGirlInThePinkShoes by #StacyGreen.
I loved this. Lucy Kendall is a private detective with a difference, after working in children's services and fed up of having her hands tied she decides to go to work for herself and help as many children as she can.
Mind blowing and addictive, don’t miss this book.
This is the first book of four in the Lucy Kendall’ series, a new series for me.
Lucy is a PI who used to work in Children’s Services and now doles out her own kind of justice, a great backstory for the beginning of what I’m sure is going to be a great series. This was a little bit of a slow burn for me but soon got underway. I’m lucky to have all four to read and I’m already diving into number two.
I love a good crime novel - but there is often that slight feeling of deja vu because it must be nigh on impossible to come up with a brand new idea! Enter Lucy Kendall! She is like a female “Dexter” a PI with a desire to rid the world of the worst offenders… those who hurt children! We aren’t treated to a gentle introduction into her back story, but thrust right into the middle of it! Not for the faint hearted - there is a lot of hideous, graphic scenes described throughout the book, but Stacy Green remains respectful to the sensitive matter! I love a powerful heroine and Lucy may just be my new fave!!
I would like to thank Netgalley and Bookouture for an advance copy of The Girl in the Pink Shoes, the first novel to feature Philadelphia based PI Lucy Kendall, originally published in 2014 as All Good Deeds.
Eight year old Kailey Richardson did not return from school. Lucy Kendall a former social worker in child protection turned PI with a tragic past is determined to bring Kailey home safely, but with everyone keeping secrets Lucy soon finds the case creeping closer to her own past.
I am a big fan of the author’s Nikki Hunt series and was delighted to be able to read this new series. Unfortunately, Lucy Kendall is nothing like Nikki Hunt and I struggled to get through this, especially the first half.
This is a novel about childhood trauma and how the after effects seep into adult life. Just about every character in the book has been a victim of some sort and it’s hard going. It means that there is little clarity of thought and Lucy is mostly driven by feelings and emotions. She seems to latch on to theories with no proof and no real logic. I like a clearer storyline with goals and aims, not this mishmash of knee jerk reactions, emotional turmoil and illegal actions. I know that Lucy is driven by her need to find Kailey, but I feel that Kailey gets lost in the maelstrom of emotion and the hunt for her becomes a plot device to explore these emotions and their history.
The novel is, as I said, heavy on trauma and there are more coincidences than I was comfortable with, but it still manages to produce a few twists to surprise the reader. Still, a litany of terrible decision making, missteps and a rush to judgement does not entertain me.
On a more positive note this is the first novel in the series, so it may be that all the history and character exploration are done here, allowing for a more lucid read in the ensuing novels. I hope so, because I didn’t find The Girl in the Pink Shoes engrossing or particularly exciting.
CW: child abuse, abduction, and SA
This is the first book of four in the ‘Lucy Kendall’ series.
“I’m not a killer.” This intriguing first sentence will immediately draw you in to the story. Lucy Kendall leaves her job at CPS after learning the justice system fails the children they are working to protect. Now working as a private investigator, Lucy is determined to make pedophiles pay for their heinous crimes and abuse…by any means necessary. When a little girl goes missing in the area, Lucy can’t help getting involved whether it is by helping law enforcement or by enacting her own personal justice system.
Though the subject matter is a difficult topic, it is not graphic and was well executed. The plot was well developed and engaging and there was great character development. Overall this was a great book. You will be suspicious of everyone and won’t know you to trust. This fast-paced thriller will keep you guessing until the very end on who the kidnapper is.
You’ll like this book if you’re a fan of vigilantes. This book will have you rooting for Lucy to carry out her very own “Lucy Kendall justice system”. I would definitely recommend this book for those who enjoy crime thrillers and vigilante justice. I am looking forward to seeing how the rest of the series plays out and plan on reading the next book in the series.
Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture for the ARC!
Promising start to the Lucy Kendall series. Lucy is a private investigator who used to work for child protection services. She also has a side job making sure predators get what they deserve. When a young girl goes missing, she’ll stop at nothing to find her. Lots of twists and turns let me glued to the pages. The past and present all come together in a surprising turn of events. Looking forward to more in this series!
*ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.
TW: Child Abuse
Book 1 in the Lucy Kendall series.
Lucy is a former social worker now earning a living as a Private Investigator. But she also has a secret. A very big one.
When a young child goes missing on the way home from school Lucy can't help but get involved in the search. Butting heads with the detective in charge Lucy can't shake her instincts that someone from her past job is involved.
This is a fast paced thriller with twists and connections you won't see coming.
Lucy is a fascinating character and I look forward to reading more in the series.
This isn’t a book for the squeamish and faint hearted. This is a dark crime novel where the private investigator specialises in taking child predators off the streets. Literally. It’s the first time I’ve read a novel by this Author and was so gripped by the Story that I read it in one sitting. The characters are well developed and the basis of the series is well established. Not all stories have happy endings but some do find a street justice that you wished was measured out in real life. Can’t wait to read the rest of series.
Thank you to the Author, Publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and unbiasedly review an ARC.