A Beautiful Corpse – Christi Daugherty (Book #2 – Harper McClain)
A Beautiful Corpse is the second book in Christi Daugherty’s series featuring newspaper crime reporter Harper McClain. I read the first book in the series The Echo Killing earlier this year. Both were really, really good. In both books the murders that form the core of the book have a connection to Harper. In The Echo Killing the murder eerily resembles her mother’s unsolved murder. While in A Beautiful Corpse the victim Naomi Scott a law student tends bar in an establishment that Harper frequents and where her best friend works.
When Naomi is murdered in a part of town away from her home. She had left her shift late and appeared to be upset. The first suspect is Naomi’s current boyfriend, but soon two other suspects emerge. First the owner of the bar who had stalked a previous female employee and Naomi’s ex-boyfriend the son of the city’s powerful former District Attorney. Can Harper unravel the mystery, while she deals with her own mystery?
Harper’s mystery had its origins in The Echo Killing when her was broken into and ransacked A message RUN was left for Harper. Now a year later someone has been breaking into Harper’s house! What’s happening??
Give Me a Sleuth That is Not a Policeman or PI
I always like mysteries where the main sleuth is not a private detective or policeman. Two of my favorite series featured Brady Coyne a lawyer and then the Doc Adams books. Doc was a dentist!! A reporter who covers murders is perfect for me! Christi Daugherty has done a great job of creating a believable character in Harper McClain. A well she should because she began covering murders when she was twenty-two years old. She even worked in Savannah the settinh for the Harper McClain books!
Like most books Harper is not alone she has a supporting cast of likable characters The cast includes her photographer Myles, her boss Emma Baxter the newspaper editor Dells. And finally her best friend Bonnie and love interest Detective Luke Walker. It’s a great mix of characters.
Bottom Line – Rating 4 Stars (Really Liked It)
The bottom line is that A Beautiful Corpse was a page-turning great read. And like book 1 left me waiting for book 2. I’m reay for Book 3! Issues still need resolving!!
Book 25 or 2019
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