[Image] Ten Days Gone by Beverly Long
Publication date: February 18, 2020
Pages: 377 pages
Genre: Police procedural, mystery, contemporary
Rating: 3/5 stars ✰✰✰
Strengths: Plot and backstory, believable characters
Weaknesses: Not a lot of depth, some fake drama

I'm glad I read this book. A.L. (whose real name we still don't know) and Rena are perfect police partners. He's the wizened old guy who remains a bit grumpy most of the time, and she's the younger, underestimated but quite competent detective. They get along - finish each others' thoughts, and respect each other. It makes them both very likable.

In this, the first book about A.L., anyway, they're dealing with four dead women, each murder committed 10 days apart. They have 10 days til the next murder is expected. Can they find the perpetrator, or at least deduce and protect the next intended victim? It seems likely, of course. Who would want to keep reading books where the serial killer wins?

As they trace down clues and question witnesses, A.L. is also trying to deal with his teenage daughter and his ex-wife, and Rena is worried about her marriage, as she and her husband struggle with infertility. The side plots really helped develop the characters and how their own distractions helped them view the case from different perspectives.

Overall, I'd give this procedural 3 out of 5 stars. It was a good read, and I'd definitely seek out subsequent books in the series.


Thank you to Mira Books and Netgalley for my free electronic copy of this book. I received the book in exchange for my unbiased review.