Pursuit: A Thriller
I was captivated by the jacket copy, then when I discovered the book was written by actor Gene Hackman, I was even more intrigued. Of course, who doesn’t love a good thriller, and the author delivered.
Juliette Worth is a strait-laced cop working for the Missouri State Criminal Investigation Unit, striving to make a life for herself and her daughter after a bitter divorce. After a confrontation with a live shooter in a mall, Julie is relegated to mandatory recovery and benched to desk duty. While combing through cold case files, she notices an intriguing thread in the disappearances of several young girls, and, despite her captain’s better judgment, she is permitted to reopen the cases and follow the leads. This sets her on the trail of a serial abductor murderer who taunts her at every turn. As she gains traction in her investigation, the predator grows bolder, kidnapping her daughter, taking down witnesses, and unleashing his rage on Julie.
This is a nail-biter, which makes it an awesome read.
It flips perspectives between the protagonist, Julie, and the antagonist, Charles. In fact, the author spends many a chapter in the predator’s head. You learn his backstory and the impetus behind his disturbing quest for vengeance, and a good portion of the book is devoted to his mindset, actions, plots, and disturbingly charming personality. The carefully crafted narrative puts Charles in plain sight, has him interact with Julie and sub-characters, and gives him an inner genius that makes him a walking ghost.
Julie is a complex character, as well, and is fraught with several characters standing in the way of her heroism and happiness. Her horrible human, for one, several ornery witnesses, a colleague or two, and even community members, are increasing her struggles. But her supportive boss, teenage daughter, and partner are all on her side, and in some cases, bending the rules in Julie’s favor. One thing that took me out of the storyline was Julie’s penchant for nicknames. I totaled seven different ones for her partner, which can come off a little cliché and distracting.
Of course, it’s always fun to root for an underdog, and have a badass woman be the lead—especially when the author is a man! All in all, I would recommend Pursuit to anyone who likes a thriller with a cat-and-mouse chase that carries on to the final page.
Source: Purchased
Image Courtesy of Simon & Schuster Imprint Pocket Books
