I am always excited when I find a new author to read who is able to capture my interest in the first few pages. That was the case when I picked up Russell Andrews’ book Aphrodite and my review of the book follows.
I had never heard of Russell Andrews, but the cover looked attractive and I checked the first few pages. I got hooked. The book intrigued me and the synopsis sounded like the kind of book I enjoy reading.
First of all, I know this will probably sound very silly, but I picked up the book because the cover was intriguing: plain black with silver letters spelling Aphrodite in lowercase and the tagline “whenever that name is whispered, someone dies.”
No fancy artwork or flashy images, it just had me hooked! Simplicity works.
Plot: The book begins with several murders: a young woman in a parking lot and a math teacher. Both killed by a handsome blond man.
When a small-time reporter writes an obituary about an actor friend at the local nursing home, an irate movie buff complains she messed up. The next day, she is murdered. Killed by the same strange blond assassin, who seems to be able to be in two places at the same time. All three deaths are linked to Aphrodite.
When small-time cop Justin Westwood begins to investigate the reporter’s death, it appears that the reporter’s death was a mere accident until he meets an eyewitness to the murder. Justin wants to get away from the case, but soon finds himself neck-deep in the investigation.
Justin has a “secret past” and moved to East End Harbor to escape his dark past and start over, but the case leads him back to a life he thought he left behind.
Someone is killing anyone with any connection to or knowledge of the mysterious “Aphrodite” and Justin is soon on the lam with an unlikely partner.
Does Justin know enough about “Aphrodite” to be persecuted, but not enough to know what it is? He is on the run, being hunted by a ruthless killer who will stop at nothing and no one to kill him and his partner. He must use everything he has learned as a police officer to stay alive and solve the mystery.
Review: The story progresses at a fast pace and the twists and revelations about “Aphrodite” are revealed slowly and keep the reader interested in why all these murders and other things happen. The story is believable and you really care about Justin Westwood and Deena Harper. Even the weird character Wally Crabble is well designed and the Touay are the stuff nightmares are made of!
I was totally entertained by this book, a real page turner. The ending was a nice surprise, but I was a bit disappointed that a story was left over. Where did the girl go in the end? A minor point, but it bothered me.
After finishing this book, I went out and got a copy of Gideon, another one of Russell Andrews’ books, and I’m ready to read it and will check it out as soon as I’m done.