Category: Eva Dolan

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This Is How It Ends by Eva Dolan – Blog Tour Review.

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About the Book

This is how it begins.
With a near-empty building, the inhabitants forced out of their homes by property developers.
With two women: idealistic, impassioned blogger Ella and seasoned campaigner, Molly.
With a body hidden in a lift shaft.
But how will it end?

My Review

With thanks to the publisher for the copy received.
This Is How It Ends is the first standalone novel by Eva Dolan and it is pretty amazing. It is based around a group of friends who protest against government, property developers and anybody who they feel is doing harm. With the state of the country there is plenty to protest about but their current project is the demolition of a block of flats that will have a huge impact on the lives of it’s inhabitants. Many people protest from the comfort of their sofas, shouting at the TV but there are also those who are prepared to go one step further. A few of these are Molly, Ella and Carol.
Molly and Carol have been protesting for years, Ella is the new kid on the block. The daughter of a high-ranking police officer she has had a privileged life compared to the people she protests with and for. After a party at the condemned flats their lives change dramatically. And that is all I can say about the plot. The less you know the more you will enjoy the novel.
There are two narrators, Molly whose account moves forward into real-time, and Ella whose account starts in the present time but then goes backward. Molly is older than Ella, she feels protective towards her but is increasingly wary . There are other characters who feature quite heavily. Most of them have an outward image that doesn’t reflect their true personality.
It’s a very topical book to read. Nearly every time you watch the news you see what type of things protesters are prepared to fight. All the mistrust of the police, the government and the media is all evident in real life and in this novel. The big events that are mentioned in the novel, one of which meant more to me than the others made it real and showed that are always going to be battles that affect some personally.
The last few pages I couldn’t read quickly enough,with an increasing anxiety and heart rate. On finishing, I just sat gazing into space devastated over what I had read.
Eva Dolan, you have excelled yourself. This novel is one that makes you analyse what is happening around you. I will be very surprised if this book isn’t one of the best sellers of the year.

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Watch Her Disappear by Eva Dolan.

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About the Book

The body is found by the river, near a spot popular with runners.

With a serial rapist at work in the area, DI Zigic and DS Ferreira are initially confused when the Hate Crimes Unit is summoned to the scene. Until they discover that the victim, Corinne Sawyer, was born Colin Sawyer.

Police records reveal there have been violent attacks on trans women in the local area. Was Corinne a victim of mistaken identity? Or has the person who has been targeting trans women stepped up their campaign of violence? With tensions running high, and the force coming under national scrutiny, this is a complex case and any mistake made could be fatal…

My Review

Watch Her Disappear is the fourth book in the series that features Zigic and Ferreira and is my favourite one so far. You can always rely on Eva Dolan to write something a bit different and in this book the hate crimes unit are looking into the murder of a transgender woman and other attacks that they suspect are linked. Corrine, the victim doesn’t come across as a very nice person, either as Corrine or in her previous life as Colin. In all honesty, I had more sympathy, if not liking for her family.
All the trans women who featured appeared more confident and happy when they could live their lives as women. Eva demonstrates how the trans community are regarded in society. Some people are supportive but many treat them with no respect and as an object of ridicule. Some of the terminology used by members of the police force excluding Zigic and Ferreira made me cringe slightly and it was believable. Even more believable was the storyline regarding the attitude of certain people on social media.
Alongside the investigation is another that is looking into rape. The two detectives who are involved in the case know who is responsible but it is impossible to prove it. Ferreira is also doing some work on this case and I loved how she could get under the suspect’s skin.
The last third of the novel, when I had figured out who was responsible if not why was impossible to put down. I felt upset for Ferreira who struggled with guilt and frustration at having to stand aside. She has been a favourite character since the first book, I just like everything about her.
I read a lot of series fiction and with all the books that I read I usually fall behind but this is one series that I have kept up to date with. I hope that it will continue.
With thanks to the publisher for my copy received.

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After You Die by Eva Dolan.

imageAfter You Die is the third book in the Zigic and Ferreira series and is one that I have been waiting impatiently to read since the cliff hanger ending in book two. It was well worth waiting for!
Unlike the first two books, which involved hate crimes against those from a different country this was about hate crime aimed at a disabled blogger. Holly was paralysed in an accident a few years previously. Her accident caused her parents marriage to breakdown, her mother was active on dating websites and she had very little contact with her father who blamed himself. When Dawn is murdered, Holly is left to die from natural causes in her bedroom.
Ferreira has just returned to work after a bad injuries she suffered while on active duty. She is still affected by them, both mentally and physically but is determined to prove that she can cope despite concerns from her colleagues. Zigic is fighting to keep the case in the hate crimes department and is angered by restrictions placed on him when a potential witness needs to be interviewed. Nathan was an enigma, I kept on reading just a little bit more to find out what his past was and why Zigic was having to hold back.
A lot of people have views on the right to die issue. The topic was handled very well in the novel. I imagine that the abuse that Holly received via her blog was pretty accurate. She was a great character, one of the nicest and definitely one of the bravest people in the book. She had a big impact on Ferreira who was desperate to get answers into the killings.
Quite sad at times, especially the storylines with the younger people who feature. It was harder to feel any sympathy or warmth towards any of the other characters. The crime itself was very cold and calculating. Probably one of the most calculating that I have read for a while.
The Zigic and Ferreira detective series is one of my favourites. I’ve enjoyed each book, you get to know the main characters a little more in each one but their personal lives don’t impact the main story. If you haven’t read them I would recommend reading in order.

With thanks to the publisher and the author for the copy received.