princessofpups8's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
jmatkinson1's review against another edition
4.0
When a bartender colleague of her friend is found dead, Harper McClain has a lot on her plate but she is still a reporter at heart. Following events the previous year Harper finds herself shunned by the local police and they think they have the killer, Naomi's boyfriend. However Naomi's father doesn't believe it is him and Harper starts to follow her own leads. This bring her to the son of a wealthy politician who has links to the board of her newspaper. Fighting for justice for Naomi, Harper is also aware that someone is stalking her.
Not having read the previous book about Harper McClain I wa splaying catch-up to a certain extent but this is an engaging and pacy thriller that grabs anyway. It's a fairly standard American procedural with a modern setting and a few twists. On the whole very entertaining but without being completely unputdownable!
Not having read the previous book about Harper McClain I wa splaying catch-up to a certain extent but this is an engaging and pacy thriller that grabs anyway. It's a fairly standard American procedural with a modern setting and a few twists. On the whole very entertaining but without being completely unputdownable!
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
4.0
A 2019 staff favorite recommended by Jane. Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sbeautiful%20corpse%20daugherty__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold
lisaeirene's review against another edition
5.0
A Beautiful Corpse: Harper McClain #2 by Christi Daugherty
This is the second book in the series. Harper is back, front and center, still the crime reporter for the flailing newspaper in Savannah. Her personal life is also flailing a little bit. Her ex is back in town, but they aren't really back together and things are weird between them.
Harper is just trying to do her job when she gets a story that changes everything. Naomi Scott is a law student who also works as a bartender to make ends meet. She works at the same bar as Bonnie, Harper's best friend. Naomi is murdered and Harper is convinced the police are on the wrong path.
This was another good book. I really enjoyed the story. All the characters come to life, you really picture the world created. I couldn't put the book down.
This is the second book in the series. Harper is back, front and center, still the crime reporter for the flailing newspaper in Savannah. Her personal life is also flailing a little bit. Her ex is back in town, but they aren't really back together and things are weird between them.
Harper is just trying to do her job when she gets a story that changes everything. Naomi Scott is a law student who also works as a bartender to make ends meet. She works at the same bar as Bonnie, Harper's best friend. Naomi is murdered and Harper is convinced the police are on the wrong path.
This was another good book. I really enjoyed the story. All the characters come to life, you really picture the world created. I couldn't put the book down.
tbsims's review against another edition
2.0
the luke dialog is a bit clunky "I don't like what I'm hearing, Harper. This isn't right." "who the hell is this guy? Why is he messing with you like this?"
And the end - I'm fleeing my home because I don't feel safe but I'm wishing for [bad guy] to follow me?
huh.
And the end - I'm fleeing my home because I don't feel safe but I'm wishing for [bad guy] to follow me?
huh.
mommasaystoread's review
4.0
This second Harper McClain novel starts with a bang and doesn't let up. There's a lot going on in this one with some of it being new and some trickling over from the first book. Harper's determination shines through in spite of her less than stellar relationship with the police department, and her suspect this time doesn't do anything to repair that relationship. While we do get a satisfactory conclusion, there are still some unanswered questions to watch for in the next addition to the series. I would recommend reading the books in order to get Harper's backstory along with everything that led to her problems with the police department. All in all, this one is a solid addition to the series and the genre.
mandylovestoread's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, what a fantastic book. I only just read the Echo Killing which is the first book in this series earlier this week and I wish I had gotten into this series sooner. A Beautiful Corpse I felt was even better. I started this on Saturday night and couldn't wait to finish it this morning. And now that I have finished it I am already desperate for book 3! The way this book ended left it wide open with questions... questions that I am dying to learn the answers to.
It is a year since the events of The Echo Killing and Harper McClain is back doing what she does best at the newspaper. As the crime writer she is kept busy in this Savannah town, but after her actions she is on the outer with the local police. One night she is drinking and playing pool with her best friend Bonnie when a call comes in of a shooting in the tourist district. The 2 head over to the crime scene but soon realise that the victim is Bonnies co-worker Naomi Scott. Naomi's boyfriend is immediately under suspicion and arrested. Harper gets into the investigation and learns that there is another suspect, who has strong connections in town. The harder she looks the more danger she is in.
I love the character of Harper. She had a rough start to life - that you learn all about in The Echo Killing. Events in that book also devastated her. Her love life is also a mess but she gets on everyday, without a lot of sleep. She is stubborn and refuses to back down, even when her life is being threatened. But she is loyal to those that she loves, she would do anything to protect them. I look forward to learning more about her as the series continues.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
It is a year since the events of The Echo Killing and Harper McClain is back doing what she does best at the newspaper. As the crime writer she is kept busy in this Savannah town, but after her actions she is on the outer with the local police. One night she is drinking and playing pool with her best friend Bonnie when a call comes in of a shooting in the tourist district. The 2 head over to the crime scene but soon realise that the victim is Bonnies co-worker Naomi Scott. Naomi's boyfriend is immediately under suspicion and arrested. Harper gets into the investigation and learns that there is another suspect, who has strong connections in town. The harder she looks the more danger she is in.
I love the character of Harper. She had a rough start to life - that you learn all about in The Echo Killing. Events in that book also devastated her. Her love life is also a mess but she gets on everyday, without a lot of sleep. She is stubborn and refuses to back down, even when her life is being threatened. But she is loyal to those that she loves, she would do anything to protect them. I look forward to learning more about her as the series continues.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
aly36's review against another edition
5.0
Harper McClain is a report that cover the crime beat. What an exciting mystery! Would you investigate if someone got murdered close to you? I think this story was exciting and kept my attention. I have not read book one and I don't think I missed anything by starting with book two. I enjoyed this book and would read more. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*
jaclyn_sixminutesforme's review
4.0
Another compelling and solid story - I felt like the connection to be underlying murder of Harper’s mother was not as strong in this second book, and the connections to the mysterious man a little too loose for me to buy into it. I feel like it could have been omitted from the story without any impact.
I continue to adore Harper’s character, and love the believable and gripping way that Daugherty writes her - there were some scenes for me that didn’t feel very “her” though, one in particular is the scene where she kisses her boss at the paper. 🤷🏻♀️
Overall though a solid story - and thank you to Minotaur Books for the ARC.
I continue to adore Harper’s character, and love the believable and gripping way that Daugherty writes her - there were some scenes for me that didn’t feel very “her” though, one in particular is the scene where she kisses her boss at the paper. 🤷🏻♀️
Overall though a solid story - and thank you to Minotaur Books for the ARC.
syren1532's review against another edition
4.0
Harper McLain is a crime reporter for a newspaper in Savannah. She’s catching up with her best friend Bonnie when she’s called to a murder scene. When she and Bonnie arrive they realise they know the victim - Naomi Scott was a law student who worked part time at the same bar as Bonnie. Naomi has been shot. The police think her boyfriend Wilson did it. There are also two other suspects - the owner of the bar where Naomi worked as well as a fellow student who stalked her and led her to take a restraining order out on him. While working on the story Harper comes to realise that someone has been breaking in to her apartment on a regular basis and that they’re watching her all the time.
This is the second book in the Harper McLain series and the fact I haven’t read the first didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this one. A really well paced story and I look forward to reading more about Harper McLain soon.
Thanks to Netgalley, Harper Collins and Christi Daugherty for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Harper McLain series and the fact I haven’t read the first didn’t detract from my enjoyment of this one. A really well paced story and I look forward to reading more about Harper McLain soon.
Thanks to Netgalley, Harper Collins and Christi Daugherty for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.