The Associate is the second book in the Shanna Regan Mysteries series from journalist Victoria Goldman. It features themes of racism and prejudice, heritage and identity, British Jewish-Muslim interfaith projects, and dark secrets. The Redeemer, the first book in the series, was shortlisted for Best Debut Crime Novel of 2022 in the Crime Fiction Lover Awards 2022.
THE BODY COUNT IS RISING … AND GETTING FAR TOO CLOSE
A missing architect. An interfaith charity project. Vandalism and online threats. Can racist slogans lead to kidnap – or even murder? When an architect vanishes in East London, her concerned fiancé asks journalist Shanna Regan to find her. The missing woman has been leading an interfaith Jewish-Muslim charity project that’s become the target of malicious damage and racist threats. After Shanna witnesses a teenage girl fall to her death, she’s convinced the architect’s disappearance is also linked to a local youth outreach project. And then another woman is reported missing. Amid rising local tensions, danger appears to be lurking around every corner. Even the safest sanctuaries seem to be hiding the darkest secrets. As Shanna uncovers a tangled web of lies, she puts her own life on the line. Will she find the missing architect before it’s too late? The Associate is the compelling and thought-provoking sequel to The Redeemer.
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VICTORIA GOLDMAN is a freelance journalist, editor, proofreader and author. She was given an honourable mention for The Redeemer in the Capital Crime/DHH Literary Agency New Voices Award 2019. The Redeemer was shortlisted for Best Debut Crime Novel of 2022 in the Crime Fiction Lover Awards. Victoria lives in Hertfordshire.
My thoughts: this was really good, the second book in a series is often when the characters feel more realistic, as now we’ve done the back story, they have more room to grow and I certainly felt that Shanna was more fully realised here.
I liked the way she’s trying to actually be a journalist and do her job, even though she can’t leave the mystery of the missing Louisa alone, even after two people are killed in front of her. I would be at home with the doors locked, praying no one knocks on my front door at that point. Not Shanna, who keeps digging into the strange goings on at the East London synagogue.
She’s also learning more about Judaism and her heritage from the other characters, which is really interesting. Having lived in North West London amongst the Jewish community all my life, I knew some things and could probably even identify the areas she visits from the descriptions.
The undercover reports on the different synagogues and towns were funny, if a little cruel or frustrated too. I find it weird when there isn’t a kosher section in a supermarket, I’m so used to them, so I did appreciate the frustrations.
The mystery within a mystery format, the hidden rooms in the old building, the inter-faith group (which are so important in building bridges), there’s so much detail and it’s all brought vividly to life.
And Shanna’s quest for her family finally starts to take shape, I can’t wait to see how that goes in future books. As well as what she gets involved with next.
*I was kindly gifted a copy of this book in exchange for my review but all opinions remain my own.
ramblingmads 