Novel set in USA, LONDON, PARIS
Hard hitting thriller set across LONDON
12th July 2023
Good Girls Die Last by Natali Simmonds, hard hitting thriller set across London.
“Having lived in London most of my life I find it hard to set my books anywhere else. The city holds a very special energy with its ancient newness and mix of famous sites and unknown corners, a tourist mecca with a filthy underbelly. To some extent London is the main character in this book…” Author’s Note.
This is a London of which we have had glimpses. For more than a month in the novel, the temperatures have more than topped 40°C , there has been no rain, plants are dead, fires spring up at intervals. It becomes apparent there is a serial killer on the loose. Indeed, the author wonderfully captures the city and people set against this apocalyptic climate.
Em is on her way to the office, anticipating a good job offer following on from her temporary contract, but her employment is summarily terminated because of allegations made against her by a male colleague. He is known to be free with his hands and liberal with lewd comments, and yet no-one considers hearing her version of events. Her day is already ruined and her goal for the evening is to get to London City Airport for a flight to Málaga, so that she can see her ailing mother in Ronda and attend her sister’s wedding, taking place in 48 hours.
Her day, however, gets no better. Given the rising temperatures in the city, public transport has ground to halt and her only real option is to set off on foot for the airport (a walk just short of 3 hours, if you want to know). There is no water to be had, as outlets have run dry, there is little shade available along the route, the searing sun is softening the asphalt and frazzling the populace.
Source. Author’s Twitter account
The author really keeps the tension at a good and consistent level. Em’s travails are almost painted like a nightmare – in whichever direction she turns, she is stymied in her effort to move her feet and get on her way. The prospect of missing her plane feels all too real, as she stops off for a quick bite to eat and for the call of nature. She has various groups of men to fend off, experiences that many of us have endured at some level, but all piled on this single female. The author has a persistent point that women are so often unheard, as some men continue to drive on with their sexist behaviour. Crackling away in the background throughout is the parched city. There are Tweets that propel the story along, and various views of an eclectic twitterati, which is pretty much on point as events unfold.
Many of her decisions and actions are governed by her experience of childhood trauma, at her home in Ronda, where her father was a brute within the family.
Victims of the serial killer start to mount, adding another level of tension.
There is something for everyone (see the image above) in this tautly told and breathless story, which never really lets up. A great choice for a gripping poolside read this Summer.
Tina for the TripFiction Team
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