‘A Map of the Dark’ by Karen Ellis

Published by Mulholland Books,
11 January 2018.
ISBN: 978-1-473-66277-3 (HB)

FBI Agent Elsa Myers is visiting her dying father in hospital when a call comes from her boss Marco Coutts asking her to look into the case of a missing seventeen year old girl, Ruby Haverstock. A new young detective working on the case Lex, has asked for her help as she has a reputation for getting results.

They visit both Charlie a past boyfriend and Paul a more recent one, but they can shed no light on Ruby's disappearance.

When blood samples found are tested to their concern they match six girls who went missing, three in 2008 and three in 2012, they realise they are dealing with a very dangerous person. The girls were never found.

Elsa and Lex are still not very far forward in finding Ruby when another girl disappears. Elsa is distraught when her niece Mel, who she is very close to goes missing, but she then learns that Mel had a huge row with her mother and stormed out. Did she just run away? Elsa now becomes frantic to solve the disappearances.

Running parallel with the story throughout the book are the recollections of Elsa as to how her mother used to beat her for the slightest misdemeanour when she was a young child. Although her father knew what went on he never tried to stop her. It has really affected her later in life and she becomes desperate to find out from her father before he dies why he didn't act.

The twists and turns of the plot and Elsa's story make for a gripping story of a race against time with a horrifically revealing ending.

A rather interesting and sometimes dark story of just how the brutal treatment of a child can have a great effect on the rest of that person's life. I thought it was very cleverly intertwined with the main plot about the girls who go missing and how it affects Elsa. It is really two stories wrapped around each other into one, very well told. Recommended.

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Reviewer: Tricia Chappell

Karen Ellis is the pseudonym of Katie Lief, the author of several international best-selling rime novels including The Money Kill.

 https://www.karenellisbooks.com/

Tricia Chappell. I have a great love of books and reading, especially crime and thrillers. I play the occasional game of golf (when I am not reading). My great love is cruising especially to far flung places, when there are long days at sea for plenty more reading! I am really enjoying reviewing books and have found lots of great new authors.