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julia3177's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
febeleest's review
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5*
Bib Genk.
Al 10 boeken lang, volg ik Helen's politiewerk. M. J. Arlidge schrijft deze serie goed. Het is geen hoogvlieger, geen een van deze boeken is dat. Maar elk verhaal zit goed in elkaar, is zeer vlot geschreven en is verslavend. Ondanks dat de boeken steeds dikker worden, +500 pagina's, lees ik ze telkens in 2-3 dagen uit.
Bib Genk.
Al 10 boeken lang, volg ik Helen's politiewerk. M. J. Arlidge schrijft deze serie goed. Het is geen hoogvlieger, geen een van deze boeken is dat. Maar elk verhaal zit goed in elkaar, is zeer vlot geschreven en is verslavend. Ondanks dat de boeken steeds dikker worden, +500 pagina's, lees ik ze telkens in 2-3 dagen uit.
leeloo14__'s review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
bethpeninger's review against another edition
4.0
It's a newly post-COVID world, and Helen Grace and her team at Southampton are challenged by a wave of crime washing over the city. At first glance, none of the crimes are related—arson, vandalism, robbery—crimes that seem par for the course. But as each crime is investigated, little threads of similarity emerge. However, DI Grace works in a "divided house." During the height of COVID and after her affair with DS Joseph Hudson, the team has taken sides. Nobody is wearing a shirt, but there are two offerings - Team Grace or Team Hudson and Joseph is doing everything he can to, in his words, "end Helen Grace." He's even gone over to Emilia Garanita and is leaking information about ongoing and current investigations to her. (By the way, that's a BIG no-no.) DS Hudson ignores DI Grace's investigative directives and goes rogue, determined to prove he is the superior detective, and her time has come and gone at Southampton. This throws everyone into a state of confusion and delay, exposing how the crimes are connected and why. Helen feels the urgency of putting a stop to the crime wave and getting her Southampton house back in order. Will she be allowed to do either, or will DS Hudson find a way to exile her for good?
This is another excellent offering in the Helen Grace series. How the crimes connected was clever, and the why was smart and sinister. The tension Arlidge had created with the addition of DS Hudson a couple of books ago, and the apex of the relationship between Grace and Hudson in this title was satisfying, although probably not very realistic. We want the truth to always win, but reality heavily leans toward the white male always being the victor, whether they hold the truth or not. But hope springs eternal for the women of this world. Arlidge took Grace through some interesting personal shifts in this title, and I'm curious to see how those continue to flesh out in coming titles.
This is another excellent offering in the Helen Grace series. How the crimes connected was clever, and the why was smart and sinister. The tension Arlidge had created with the addition of DS Hudson a couple of books ago, and the apex of the relationship between Grace and Hudson in this title was satisfying, although probably not very realistic. We want the truth to always win, but reality heavily leans toward the white male always being the victor, whether they hold the truth or not. But hope springs eternal for the women of this world. Arlidge took Grace through some interesting personal shifts in this title, and I'm curious to see how those continue to flesh out in coming titles.
anaafernandes's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
imkeschoenmakerss's review
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
2.0
domino911's review against another edition
5.0
TRUTH OR DARE is the tenth book in M.J. Arlidge’s Southampton-set police procedurals featuring D.I. Helen Grace, his dedicated, if unorthodox, series protagonist. This time D.I. Grace is faced with a spate of unsolved, and seemingly unconnected, murders and violent crimes. Under pressure from her superiors and from the local press, to whom her former lover, and ambitious deputy, D.S. Hudson, is feeding information aimed at bringing Grace down, Helen struggles to make sense of the crimewave and, perhaps, to save her career.
The investigation into the crimes is engrossing as D.I. Grace becomes increasingly convinced that these are not random occurrences, that there is a link between them, if only she could find the connection. But it is the subplot involving Hudson’s machinations that really drives the novel along. Hudson is a deliciously drawn character and, for me, the real antagonist. Possessing investigative skills but no empathy, and driven by self-interest, Hudson wants to lead the department and will stop at nothing in his campaign to remove Helen Grace. There is more than a touch of Iago in Hudson as he foments suspicion and mistrust in the team and encourages his superiors, already wary of adverse publicity and irritated by their D.I.’s unconventional approach, to see the team’s apparent failings as Grace’s alone. I became more and more frustrated and angry, but no less entertained, by Hudson’s success in undermining his boss.
As you might expect from an author so well-versed in TV crime dramas, the novel is very televisual and moves at an rapid pace. TRUTH OR DARE is an exciting and engaging book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
The investigation into the crimes is engrossing as D.I. Grace becomes increasingly convinced that these are not random occurrences, that there is a link between them, if only she could find the connection. But it is the subplot involving Hudson’s machinations that really drives the novel along. Hudson is a deliciously drawn character and, for me, the real antagonist. Possessing investigative skills but no empathy, and driven by self-interest, Hudson wants to lead the department and will stop at nothing in his campaign to remove Helen Grace. There is more than a touch of Iago in Hudson as he foments suspicion and mistrust in the team and encourages his superiors, already wary of adverse publicity and irritated by their D.I.’s unconventional approach, to see the team’s apparent failings as Grace’s alone. I became more and more frustrated and angry, but no less entertained, by Hudson’s success in undermining his boss.
As you might expect from an author so well-versed in TV crime dramas, the novel is very televisual and moves at an rapid pace. TRUTH OR DARE is an exciting and engaging book and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
isavro's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
ancarucareanu's review against another edition
5.0
Adevăr sau provocare, al zecelea volum din seria Helen Grace, a fost o cursă nebună, nebună! Un roller-coaster de emoții, adrenalină și tensiune în stare pură! Helen Grace s-a întors și aventura a fost plină de crime violente, aparent fără legătură între ele, de răzbunare, oportuniști și polițe restante ce se cer plătite.
M.J. Arlidge m-a cucerit încă de la primul volum, dar m-am temut că mă voi obișnui prea tare cu povestea și personajele. Că, odată ce am petrecut prea mult timp alături de echipa lui Helen, lucrurile vor deveni prea familiare și prea ușor de dibuit. Helen Grace părea doar un „teren” plin de contraste, acțiunile sale din sfera personală nu mă „mulțumeau” pe deplin. Acum, după zece volume, Helen Grace a devenit un icon al detectivilor din lumea romanelor de ficțiune. Helen Grace este mai puternică, mai stăpână pe situație, mai sigură și mai greu de oprit. Și ce mi-a plăcut să îi strig asta Emiliei Garanita! Și lui Hudson, recunosc.
https://ancasicartile.ro/adevar-sau-provocare-m-j-arlidge-recenzie/
M.J. Arlidge m-a cucerit încă de la primul volum, dar m-am temut că mă voi obișnui prea tare cu povestea și personajele. Că, odată ce am petrecut prea mult timp alături de echipa lui Helen, lucrurile vor deveni prea familiare și prea ușor de dibuit. Helen Grace părea doar un „teren” plin de contraste, acțiunile sale din sfera personală nu mă „mulțumeau” pe deplin. Acum, după zece volume, Helen Grace a devenit un icon al detectivilor din lumea romanelor de ficțiune. Helen Grace este mai puternică, mai stăpână pe situație, mai sigură și mai greu de oprit. Și ce mi-a plăcut să îi strig asta Emiliei Garanita! Și lui Hudson, recunosc.
https://ancasicartile.ro/adevar-sau-provocare-m-j-arlidge-recenzie/