A review by bgg616
The Girl in the Green Dress by Cath Staincliffe
4.0
I waivered between 3 and 4 stars on this but at the end, it wrapped up quite satisfactorily. Steve, a father of two, and widower, sends his elder daughter, Allie, age 18, to her end of secondary school dance and celebration. A few hours late, the police come to his house. Allie has been murdered. Allie is a transgender teen who after a few years of struggle at school, is experiencing support and acceptance. This detail is not a spoiler as the book's back cover reveals that this is the story of a transgender teen.
The Manchester Police mount a major investigation to find Allie's killers. The unrolling of the investigation is described in detail. There are numerous characters including the police officers, and those caught up in the investigation. The book is written in short chapters each from the perspective of one character. One of the most interesting is Jade, a novice detective, with a complicated but undisclosed history. She is of Asian (Indian, Pakistani or other from the Indian subcontinent) heritage which is relevant because of the hostility directed at her by some. While there was adequate description of Allie's story, some may feel it is too cursory. No one from the LGBT community is asked to provide advice or insights regarding who to look at, what to look for, and more. But one positive touch is the presence of the gay mayor of Manchester at a vigil for Allie, a mayor who appears by name, and has been a guiding force in the fight against violence against people who are transgender.
The culprits are identified fairly early, but there is another twist that makes this an above average crime novel.
The Manchester Police mount a major investigation to find Allie's killers. The unrolling of the investigation is described in detail. There are numerous characters including the police officers, and those caught up in the investigation. The book is written in short chapters each from the perspective of one character. One of the most interesting is Jade, a novice detective, with a complicated but undisclosed history. She is of Asian (Indian, Pakistani or other from the Indian subcontinent) heritage which is relevant because of the hostility directed at her by some. While there was adequate description of Allie's story, some may feel it is too cursory. No one from the LGBT community is asked to provide advice or insights regarding who to look at, what to look for, and more. But one positive touch is the presence of the gay mayor of Manchester at a vigil for Allie, a mayor who appears by name, and has been a guiding force in the fight against violence against people who are transgender.
The culprits are identified fairly early, but there is another twist that makes this an above average crime novel.