He Will Be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker Published by Atria Books on February 2, 2016
Genres/Lists: Fiction, Mystery/Thriller
Pages: 352
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I received this book for free from TLC Book Tours.
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I received a copy of this book for free through TLC Book Tours. See a list of all of the reviews here.
I’ve been reading more mysteries and thrillers lately, and I have to say I’ve really been enjoying them. My latest, He Will Be My Ruin by K.A. Tucker, is no exception. It’s the story of a woman named Maggie who comes home after a friend’s suicide. Convinced her friend would never do such a thing, she sticks around. Even though she knows she could be wrong, she starts investigating. But as she asks more questions and delves deeper into her friend’s past, including her involvement with rare antiques, she finds herself tangled in the web of danger that led to her friend’s death.
He Will Be My Ruin grabbed me from the beginning with its writing style (quick but thorough) and by jumping right into the action. We get to know the friend who died through a series of diary entries punctuated throughout the book and her story is heartbreaking. Although she is the reason for the story, it is Maggie who takes center stage. Maggie, who I had a hard time connecting with at first, quickly grew on me. In addition to being a strong and confident woman, she’s quirky and slightly socially awkward, which I can relate to. Plus, her well-rounded development left me more invested in her story than I would have been, otherwise. Even when I was silently shouting at her for her choices, I was rooting for her.
He Will By My Ruin: A great mystery for the non-mystery fan. Click To Tweet
Two things surprised me about this book. First, it reminded me how much I enjoy stories about art. One of my favorite books for a long time was Three Fates by Nora Roberts (clearly my tastes have changed) but I forgot how fun stories about rare art and their histories can be. As soon as I realized this, I fell deeper into the novel, hoping for even more of it. Although this is certainly not an art history book, it provides context and I get the impression the author has a deep appreciation for it. And who doesn’t love a book that inspires more reading on a subject?
Second, I was absolutely certain I had it all figured out early on and was dead wrong. Usually, when I think I know what’s coming, I leave room for doubt but I was so sure of myself that I was blindsided by the ending (avid mystery fans figured it all out but, alas, I did not). This is partly because Tucker subtly weaved small, intricate plot lines into the major ones that I didn’t pick up on until after the fact. The book left me shocked that I was shocked, which is not a feeling I get very often, and I’m glad.
Recommended for: Anyone looking for a mystery that will genuinely surprise them.
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