The Girl Who Wouldn't Die by Marnie Riches

The Girl Who Wouldn't Die
By Marnie Riches
Published by Maze (2 April 2015)
Available  as an e-book from Amazon.

Publisher's description
HE'S WATCHING HER. SHE DOESN'T KNOW IT… YET

When a bomb explodes at the University of Amsterdam, aspiring criminologist Georgina McKenzie is asked by the police to help flush out the killer.

But the bomb is part of a much bigger, more sinister plot that will have the entire city quaking in fear.

And the killer has a very special part for George to play...

My verdict
This is the first book in a trilogy, with the second instalment due to be published in August 2015 and the third in November 2015.

Georgina 'George' McKenzie is a criminology student from Cambridge University who is on a year's placement at the University of Amsterdam. When some of her fellow students are targeted by a bomber, she is called on by the detective in charge of the case to aid the investigation. In South London, Ella Williams-May, who is in trouble with the police, is being forced to become an informant for an investigation into a vicious gang.

This thriller is a great debut. You can tell that the author has had direct experience of the two main locations, with lovely descriptions and insights into both Cambridge and Amsterdam. George is a great character - she's feisty, intelligent and curious, but also has a vulnerable side. And she seems to have a habit of getting heavily involved in difficult situations.

Although the prologue hooked me in straight away, it did take me a little while to get used to switching between the two threads (George and Ella). But then the story moved at a faster pace and kept me intrigued until the end.

I was surprised that the police allowed George to get so involved in the case and visit crime scenes without any qualifications or experience. But this is one of those books where you just have to go along for the ride.

I look forward to reading the next in the series.