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'Faye Kellerman, behold your British counterpart!' - Jewish Journal
'A tense, topical mystery - a great follow-up to The Redeemer and highly recommended for crime fans who like their reads refreshingly different. 'Susi Holliday, author of The Street
'Assured and confident writing, with very relevant themes, The Associate is a superb novel and an easy five stars.' J.M Hewitt, author of The Other Son
'Victoria Goldman has played a blinder with The Associate. Topical themes mixed with mystery and suspense, tension steadily increasing throughout.' Joy Kluver, author of Left for Dead
4.5 out of 5
90.00% of customers are satisfied
5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh and original, thought provoking, exciting... and highly recommended
When I read the author’s first book, I was particularly impressed by its freshness and originality, with Shanna’s own story every bit as engaging as the mystery that unfolded. And this one, from its explosive opening scene as she arrives for her appointment at the synagogue in Emberley Green, hooked me in immediately – and it really didn’t lessen its grip until the very end.As a freelance journalist, she’s surprised to be asked to help find a missing person – Louisa Phillips, an architect working with an interfaith charity project, Shalom-Salaam, seeking to strengthen the bonds between the Jewish and Muslim communities. It might just be relationship issues that have driven Louisa to disappear, but Shanna can’t resist the challenge while pursuing related stories she’s been asked to investigate. There’s a high incidence of general unease and violence within the community – stabbings, shootings, deaths – and the situation only escalates as she follows various leads and her well-honed instincts, often finding herself facing personal threat and danger as events take a distinctly darker turn.I found the whole context for this story absolutely fascinating – I’d never really considered before the potential for interfaith co-operation, the Middle East tensions becoming something rather different when individuals from both faiths find themselves unwelcome outsiders, facing equal prejudice and racism in the country where they’d hoped to find sanctuary. The escalation in opposition and associated violence is so well explored, the themes of alienation and belonging, and with absolute authenticity – but it also considerably complicates the picture, when the disappearance that initially prompted Shanna’s involvement might not be remotely related.The whole story really is quite perfectly paced, and so well written – as the reader, I felt right at the heart of the story, sharing Shanna’s journey. There’s some relief to be found in the threads of her day-to-day life – her living arrangements, her friendships, her long-distance relationship, her family complications – as the atmosphere steadily thickens, the tension relentlessly increases, and the confusion increases. There’s misdirection aplenty, so many heart-in-mouth moments – she does have rather a tendency to place herself in the path of danger, but that’s something I really liked – and this was a story where the final outcome was wholly satisfying but totally impossible to predict. And the characterisation is so excellent – as well as Shanna herself, the individuals who cross her path are very real and so well drawn, complex and with layers of secrets to be uncovered, making you feel at times that she’s the only person without a hidden agenda.There was so much I enjoyed about this book – the insights into the multi-cultural community with all its associated issues, the engaging personal stories along the way, and the intensity and unpredictability of the story that unfolded. Highly original, thought provoking, and compelling – and very highly recommended.
4.0 out of 5 stars A gripping crime thriller!
I loved Victoria Goldman’s debut novel, The Redeemer, so I was excited to hear that journalist, Shanna Regan was going to be returning, and I was eager to start reading as soon as I got my hands on a copy.Victoria’s new novel is, The Associate, and this time round, Shanna is asked to help investigate the disappearance of an architect, Louisa Phillips, after Shanna is contacted by Louisa’s fiancé, who pleads for her help. Shanna is reluctant to investigate at first, thinking that Louisa’s fiancé will be best served by contacting the police, but she eventually agrees to take the case on.Victoria Goldman has created a really intriguing mystery in her latest book surrounding Louisa’s disappearance. I wanted to know more about what was going on in Louisa’s life, and you can see how determined Shanna is in getting to the bottom of what has happened to Louisa.Victoria Goldman provides a fascinating insight into the Jewish and Muslim faiths. It is through Louisa’s work for an interfaith Jewish-Muslim charity, with its focus on asylum seekers, that we see this. What I found particularly fascinating was the interaction between the Jewish and Muslim communities. What Louisa is trying to highlight through her work at the charity is just how similar the two faiths are. This book provides a real insight into these communities that captured my attention. But Victoria Goldman also delves into the darkness as we see horrific racist attacks on the community. Victoria Goldman does a brilliant and important job of highlighting these issues. Some of these scenes do make for some shocking and disturbing reading.There are some tense scenes as Shanna uncovers the truth about what has happened, and in her strive to get answers, Shanna puts herself in very real danger. There are definitely some unexpected and chilling revelations as Victoria Goldman brilliantly reveals the truth.The Associate is a gripping crime thriller, and I hope that Victoria Goldman will release another book in this series. Victoria does a great job of writing about topical themes and writing a compelling story. The writing is so addictive. Victoria Goldman is a writer who is fast becoming one of my favourites in the crime fiction genre. I highly recommend this series.
Shanna does it again!
Book 2 in a wonderful series. The expoits of Shanna Regan, as told by this terrific author, keep you on the edge of your seat, and continuing to turn pages!
good thriller
A bit complicated plot - I felt the threads were a bit frayed & difficult to imagine it happening that way but not bad for a second book !
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