NOW YOU SEE ME

Young London police woman Lacey Flint arrives at her car one evening to find a woman slumped over the door.  The woman has been brutally stabbed, and dies in Lacey’s arms. 

Thus begins Lacey’s involvement in her first murder case.  As more victims are discovered, it appears that the police are dealing with a killer paying homage to the infamous Victorian serial killer Jack the Ripper, as the current victims are being murdered on the same dates as the Ripper’s victims, and in the same manner.  The case strikes a chord for Lacey, as she’s held a lifelong fascination for Jack the Ripper.  As the case progresses, it becomes clear that Lacey’s involvement is far more personal, and the killer is sending her direct messages.

The book is thrillingly gruesome and full of twists and turns all the way through.  It becomes clear fairly early on that Lacey is not all that she seems, and although she is the protagonist, with the book being told from her point of view, we soon learn that she is hiding many secrets.  In fact, part of the book’s suspense comes from the fact that the more we learn about Lacey and her dark past, the more we start to wonder what she is capable of.  Can we trust what she is telling us?  Could she actually be a murderer herself?

Jack the Ripper still fascinates us today, and although many books have been written dealing with the Ripper murders, Now You See Me adds an original slant and touches on one of the more radical theories regarding the identity of Jack the Ripper.  It’s a book that continues to throw out surprises, and I was gripped all the way to the exciting conclusion.

I don’t give many books a five-star rating, but in my view Now You See Me deserves one.  It’s a thrilling, engrossing and thoroughly enjoyable read and I would highly recommend it.