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A review by brownflopsy
Original Sins by Erin Young
5.0
Riley Fisher, small town sergeant transformed into rookie FBI agent, leaves home and family behind to relocate in Des Moines, Iowa, for her first posting. With no time to settle, she is thrown head first into two tough investigations, alongside a partner she neither knows, nor trusts.
A serial attacker, known as the Sin Eater, has resurfaced and recommenced his reign of terror stalking women on the wintry streets of Des Moines. His crimes bear the hallmarks of a deep hatred of women and religious fundamentalist views, but so far his identity remains elusive, despite the 'snake' tag he leaves behind. Meanwhile, the state's newly elected female governor has received a chilling death threat, and is living in fear that someone will harm her family, while she tries to push through her plans to help even the playing field for Iowa's women.
As Riley battles her own demons, she hunts down clues in both cases, and gradually uncovers a connection between them. Secrets, lies, and violence pave the way to what motivates the guilty - but not even Riley can imagine quite how dark their designs really are, or how far they spread.
In an absolutely cracking thriller that deliciously channels True Detective by way of The Silence of the Lambs, Erin Young knocks the ball out of the addictive novel park in Original Sins, the follow-up to her acclaimed debut The Fields.
Riley Fisher is a great protagonist to get your teeth into: strong and vulnerable in just the right measure, Young plays nicely on the past that haunts her to build in all the little emotional tugs you need to tie your colours firmly to her cause. Her desperation to prove herself drives her through all the beautifully crafted twists and turns in a thriller that thrums with everything I love about a page-turning cop story, while also incorporating a veritable feast of timely themes.
Brutal violence against women lies at the heart of the plot, but Young also touches on so much more about women's rights at home and in the workplace; family ties; the legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic; and false promises that fan the flames of male disaffection into hatred and fear. And there is a lovely thread about fatherhood that runs through the book. So much of this novel rings disturbingly true, and Young uses this to blend authenticity into her gritty, atmospheric plot. Superb!
I consumed this book, totally absorbed from cover to cover. It is one of the best thrillers I have read in ages, and I cannot wait for the next one!
A serial attacker, known as the Sin Eater, has resurfaced and recommenced his reign of terror stalking women on the wintry streets of Des Moines. His crimes bear the hallmarks of a deep hatred of women and religious fundamentalist views, but so far his identity remains elusive, despite the 'snake' tag he leaves behind. Meanwhile, the state's newly elected female governor has received a chilling death threat, and is living in fear that someone will harm her family, while she tries to push through her plans to help even the playing field for Iowa's women.
As Riley battles her own demons, she hunts down clues in both cases, and gradually uncovers a connection between them. Secrets, lies, and violence pave the way to what motivates the guilty - but not even Riley can imagine quite how dark their designs really are, or how far they spread.
In an absolutely cracking thriller that deliciously channels True Detective by way of The Silence of the Lambs, Erin Young knocks the ball out of the addictive novel park in Original Sins, the follow-up to her acclaimed debut The Fields.
Riley Fisher is a great protagonist to get your teeth into: strong and vulnerable in just the right measure, Young plays nicely on the past that haunts her to build in all the little emotional tugs you need to tie your colours firmly to her cause. Her desperation to prove herself drives her through all the beautifully crafted twists and turns in a thriller that thrums with everything I love about a page-turning cop story, while also incorporating a veritable feast of timely themes.
Brutal violence against women lies at the heart of the plot, but Young also touches on so much more about women's rights at home and in the workplace; family ties; the legacy of the Covid-19 pandemic; and false promises that fan the flames of male disaffection into hatred and fear. And there is a lovely thread about fatherhood that runs through the book. So much of this novel rings disturbingly true, and Young uses this to blend authenticity into her gritty, atmospheric plot. Superb!
I consumed this book, totally absorbed from cover to cover. It is one of the best thrillers I have read in ages, and I cannot wait for the next one!