A Lacey Flint Novel (Lacey Flint Novels) - Now You See Me

I have a problem with mystery books where the whole plot depends on keeping basic background facts hidden all the way until the very end.
This book is well written, nicely composed, but the plot is rediculous. The main character keeps essential information hidden from her colleagues and for the the reader. This is simply not believable. An essential part of the story is based on the tension between the main charecter and a colleague of hers. That is very poolry played out. Overall, a disappointing story.

Just the right amount of suspense, pithy dialogue, and intriguing characters. It's a read you reluctantly put down in order to sleep and pick up first thing in the morning. Great plot twists one never sees coming. It leave you. Wanting more Lacey Flint!

First Line: Leaves, mud, and grass deaden sound.

Young Detective Constable Lacey Flint has finished interviewing a witness at a London apartment complex when she stumbles into a woman brutally stabbed just seconds before in the complex's dark parking lot. Within twenty-four hours a freelance journalist receives an anonymous letter pointing out the similarities between this stabbing and Jack the Ripper's first murder-- and this letter mentions Lacey by name. If this is real, London has a killer determined to recreate the city's bloody past-- and the police have just five days until the next attempt.

Although the letter writer seems to be taunting Lacey, no one-- even her-- believes the connections are anything but a sadistic killer's game. However, as they begin to investigate deeper into the details of the case, Lacey is reminded more and more of a part of her past that she'd rather keep hidden. The only way to do that is to catch the killer herself.

Just when you think Jack the Ripper has been done to death, along comes a talented writer who proves to you that there's still life in the old geezer. What keeps this from being a tired rehash of the Ripper murders is twofold: (1) It's not a slavish copy of the original Jack the Ripper case. The killer is using the bits and pieces that fulfill the purpose, and discarding the rest. It's up to the readers and the police to figure out what the purpose is. (2) Taunting young DC Lacey Flint puts the focus on her and what a serial killer may want from her. As the focus sharpens, it's learned that Lacey has something big in her past that she wants no one else to know-- and her reliability as a narrator is put into question.

This book moves quickly and really gave me a workout as I tried to figure out the point the killer was trying to make... and what Lacey was trying to hide from everyone. Bolton lets us get to know Lacey and to trust her before putting her reliability in doubt. As the end of the book gets ever nearer, it's easy to feel that you've put all the pieces together and solved all the mysteries. Don't be too cocksure of yourself, though. I would imagine that Bolton has more than one surprise in store for you.

Don't you just love a book whose plot twists and turns, twists and turns, twists and turns... then suddenly stops, faces you, gives you a nice juicy raspberry, and proceeds to twist a few more times before coming to a halt, out of breath and laughing? I do!

Despite starting with an immediate slashing murder, it took a little bit before I really got into this book. However, it rapidly became something I could not put down! I literally tried to go to sleep TWICE that night and had to turn the light back on to read more because I couldn't stop thinking about it. Probably not the best book to start if you have a big job interview the next morning, for example!

The heroine of the story is Lacey Flint, a young detective constable, who literally walks into the first victim seconds before she bleeds out.

Here's what's sooo good about this book: First, the blending of the story of the current crime with the infamous Jack The Ripper murders. While there are other stories with Ripper copycat crimes, this book did a great job with the history of the original events. I learned a lot about Jack The Ripper, and about Ripperologists (who knew that was a thing?), and about some of the various theories of the identity of the perpetrator.

Second, the building up of the suspense was incredible. When you can't sleep because you are thinking of the book, and you absolutely have to keep going to find out how it ends—that is more than just a “hard to put down” book. There were hints throughout the book of things that you will just HAVE to find out about!

Third, the twists in the plot were great. Every time I figured out what was going on, then NOPE, I had it wrong!

The bad (or really maybe just “less good”): the romance element seemed sort of flat, and I wasn't really feeling it. Also I felt like I wanted more of an explanation of some of the things that happened in the past (but I see that this is only Book 1 of a series, so maybe that's coming up in future books!).

Overall, a great book and I will definitely read the others in the series!!

Despite starting with an immediate slashing murder, it took a little bit before I really got into this book. However, it rapidly became something I could not put down! I literally tried to go to sleep TWICE that night and had to turn the light back on to read more because I couldn't stop thinking about it. Probably not the best book to start if you have a big job interview the next morning, for example!

The heroine of the story is Lacey Flint, a young detective constable, who literally walks into the first victim seconds before she bleeds out.

Here's what's sooo good about this book: First, the blending of the story of the current crime with the infamous Jack The Ripper murders. While there are other stories with Ripper copycat crimes, this book did a great job with the history of the original events. I learned a lot about Jack The Ripper, and about Ripperologists (who knew that was a thing?), and about some of the various theories of the identity of the perpetrator.

Second, the building up of the suspense was incredible. When you can't sleep because you are thinking of the book, and you absolutely have to keep going to find out how it ends—that is more than just a “hard to put down” book. There were hints throughout the book of things that you will just HAVE to find out about!

Third, the twists in the plot were great. Every time I figured out what was going on, then NOPE, I had it wrong!

The bad (or really maybe just “less good”): the romance element seemed sort of flat, and I wasn't really feeling it. Also I felt like I wanted more of an explanation of some of the things that happened in the past (but I see that this is only Book 1 of a series, so maybe that's coming up in future books!).

Overall, a great book and I will definitely read the others in the series!!

Despite starting with an immediate slashing murder, it took a little bit before I really got into this book. However, it rapidly became something I could not put down! I literally tried to go to sleep TWICE that night and had to turn the light back on to read more because I couldn't stop thinking about it. Probably not the best book to start if you have a big job interview the next morning, for example!

The heroine of the story is Lacey Flint, a young detective constable, who literally walks into the first victim seconds before she bleeds out.

Here's what's sooo good about this book: First, the blending of the story of the current crime with the infamous Jack The Ripper murders. While there are other stories with Ripper copycat crimes, this book did a great job with the history of the original events. I learned a lot about Jack The Ripper, and about Ripperologists (who knew that was a thing?), and about some of the various theories of the identity of the perpetrator.

Second, the building up of the suspense was incredible. When you can't sleep because you are thinking of the book, and you absolutely have to keep going to find out how it ends—that is more than just a “hard to put down” book. There were hints throughout the book of things that you will just HAVE to find out about!

Third, the twists in the plot were great. Every time I figured out what was going on, then NOPE, I had it wrong!

The bad (or really maybe just “less good”): the romance element seemed sort of flat, and I wasn't really feeling it. Also I felt like I wanted more of an explanation of some of the things that happened in the past (but I see that this is only Book 1 of a series, so maybe that's coming up in future books!).

Overall, a great book and I will definitely read the others in the series!!

Despite starting with an immediate slashing murder, it took a little bit before I really got into this book. However, it rapidly became something I could not put down! I literally tried to go to sleep TWICE that night and had to turn the light back on to read more because I couldn't stop thinking about it. Probably not the best book to start if you have a big job interview the next morning, for example!

The heroine of the story is Lacey Flint, a young detective constable, who literally walks into the first victim seconds before she bleeds out.

Here's what's sooo good about this book: First, the blending of the story of the current crime with the infamous Jack The Ripper murders. While there are other stories with Ripper copycat crimes, this book did a great job with the history of the original events. I learned a lot about Jack The Ripper, and about Ripperologists (who knew that was a thing?), and about some of the various theories of the identity of the perpetrator.

Second, the building up of the suspense was incredible. When you can't sleep because you are thinking of the book, and you absolutely have to keep going to find out how it ends—that is more than just a “hard to put down” book. There were hints throughout the book of things that you will just HAVE to find out about!

Third, the twists in the plot were great. Every time I figured out what was going on, then NOPE, I had it wrong!

The bad (or really maybe just “less good”): the romance element seemed sort of flat, and I wasn't really feeling it. Also I felt like I wanted more of an explanation of some of the things that happened in the past (but I see that this is only Book 1 of a series, so maybe that's coming up in future books!).

Overall, a great book and I will definitely read the others in the series!!

A 'Jack the Ripper' copycat is murdering women in London and - like the original Ripper - is taunting the press and the cops. The copycat seems to be focusing attention on beautiful Detective Constable Lacey Flint, who had the bad luck to find the first victim moments after she was attacked. Because Lacey was first on scene - and happens to be an expert on Ripper lore - she's asked to assist with the investigation being run by Dana Tulloch, head of the Major Investigative Team.

Also assisting with the investigation is rugged, handsome Detective Inspector Mark Joesbury. Joesbury seems to be suspicious of Lacey for several reasons: she was right there at the first murder, she has a shady background and used to live rough on the streets of London, and she picks up men for one-night stands. In his eyes, Lacey's a suspect in the Ripperish killings. Of course this doesn't stop sparks of attraction from igniting between Lacey and Joesbury.

Unlike the original Ripper, who murdered down-trodden prostitutes, the copycat targets stylish middle-class women with families. The copycat does, however, seem to be following the Ripper's timetable and modus operandi: mutilating the women, removing body parts, and so on. The police have trouble finding a connection between the copycat's victims, but once they do, DC Lacey Flint is panic-stricken for reasons that are revealed as the story unfolds.

The copycat is very clever at misdirection and leaving false clues, and Lacey keeps endangering herself by plunging into situations without appropriate backup, etc. Luckily, Joesbury's usually around to lend a hand. Eventually the police identify a suspect who has a likely motive, and this eventually leads to a dramatic climax.

I liked the mystery aspects of the book and thought the killer's motive was believable. I also felt most of the main characters were compelling, though I think the author does better fleshing out female characters than male characters. The real Ripper 's history and mythology - sprinkled through the story - add interest. Moreover, Lacey's (and I guess the author's) theory about the original Ripper's identity is clever and plausible.

I'm not a big fan of romance in mysteries so I didn't enjoy the 'push and pull' between Lacey and Joesbury as they dealt with their attraction. However, readers who enjoy romantic suspense will probably like these parts. :)

Overall, a good beginning to the Lacey Flint series, recommended to fans of the genre.

Highly recommended read. The story focuses on London detective constable Lacey Flint who walks into a murder committed just seconds before her arrival in a parking lot. A woman literally dies in her arms. The description of this event was already a great beginning of the book. Even though she was a witness, Lacey then gets involved in the investigation, especially since she knows so much about Jack the Ripper and it becomes clear that, one murder after another, the killer is recreating the murders committed by Jack the Ripper over 100 year earlier. I really loved that the author intertwined the murders attributed to this nineteenth century killer with these nowadays. Lacey becomes more and more involved and there are clues that make some detectives question her, maybe she is to be the next victim or then again, maybe she’s the killer…Then she finds another connection exists to the murders. The plot is full of twists and just when you think you know what the deal is, the game changes again. It turns out to be ultimately a story of abuse and revenge, and with a great twist in the end. I really liked the Ripper copycat aspect of the book, and I loved Lacey's theory because it has merit and will definitely make you think. I will definitely read the next book in the series.
If you liked reading this, please give me a vote so I can get closer to the top reviewers. Thank you.

This is the first book in the Lacey Flint series. Lacey is a young police officer in London, working with rape/abuse victims. Coming back from an interview, she stumbles across a woman who has been brutally attacked. Things get even stranger when a journalist receives a letter from the murderer, claiming to be recreating the murders of Jack the Ripper and naming Lacey. As she becomes involved in the investigation, it becomes clear that she knows more than the average person about Jack the Ripper and has her own secrets from her past. Does she know the killer and what else is she hiding from the detectives on the case? As the body count continues to climb, the twists and turns keep coming, keeping the reader wondering what really is the truth. Deftly crafted with fantastic characterization, their flaws show their humanity. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I distributed this book as a World Book Night Volunteer. Thanks!

The start and middle are gripping with a policewoman still training up as Detective Constable when she learns that a woman has been found murdered in London. Parallels between this and the legend of Jack the Ripper start to concern Lacey, who has read up on the Ripper topic in the past. A note is sent to a female journalist (who doesn't introduce herself as such and never says which paper she works for, or if she is freelance, oddly) purporting to be from the killer, and another murder occurs.

Lacey's personal life is an utter mess and she blames this on her past instead of pulling herself together and ending her self-destructive habits. The past gradually emerges and what she tells others turns out to be, not surprisingly, misdirection. We see a lot of interjections going back eleven years which frankly just feel like padding, because they are so vague as to be meaningless in most cases. We also see a male detective following Lacey around and there is supposed to be some magnetism. This lot detracted from the usual feel of a detective team on a major crime that I read in other books, but Lacey is entirely self absorbed. There is a reason.

Lots of locations visited or name checked. A couple of dunks in the Thames. A good pace which made me look forward to reading the book on my commute. The end is very, very silly.

Graphic descriptions make this serial killer story a book for adults.

Sharon Bolton's thrillers are invariably novel in their approach and offer a gripping read from end to end. "Now You See Me" is no exception. At the outset, it gives every impression of being a fairly ordinary, run-of-the-mill police procedural, albeit of a singularly dark and gory kind. It quickly becomes apparent, however, that things may not be entirely as they seem, as realisation sinks in that the protagonist/narrator is perhaps not being as completely open with her readers as perhaps she might!

The book is beautifully written as well as brilliantly conceived and constructed, with tension and suspense masterfully manipulated from beginning to end, as the central mystery deepens -- and darkens -- with each new twist in the telling of it. There are some tell-tale signs that this is something of an early work from this author -- some of the characters are not quite as fully developed as they might be; the love interest is a tad hackneyed; some behaviours are not entirely credible -- but it shouldn't disappoint anyone who loves a good murder mystery, with some contemporary urban Gothic thrown in for good measure.

Highly recommended.

Read from February 10 to 12, 2015

I just keep adding to my favorites shelf this year. Another 5 Star read is S.J. Bolton's Now You See Me! Sharon Bolton knows how to keep a reader turning the pages! Her narration is fast paced and suspenseful, whilst giving this reader chills - a modern day Jack the Ripper! Her characters are fully fleshed out. And I loved Lacey Flint. I didn't see the last twist at the end of the novel. And it blew my mind away!

Briefly to summarize the plot. Lacey Flint is a young CID DC in London and is walking to her car. She sees a dead woman leaning, bleeding out on her car. DI Tulloch and DI Joesbury arrive on scene. Tulloch is sympathetic to Flint, but Joesbury thinks Flint may have done it and doesn't want Lacey on the team investigating the murder.

Soon it becomes apparent that the killer is recreating the infamous canonical Jack the Ripper murders. And the killer is also fixated on DC Flint. The why will be surprising - Lacey has a secret. Of course she does.

Any more of the plot lines and I'd ruin the plot for any reader who's not yet read Now You See Me. Just know this - clear a couple of days to read it, because you won't want to put the book down until you've read the last word!

Detective Constable Lacey Flint has been returning to the same apartment complex every Friday night for months. She has been trying, without any signs of success, to persuade a reluctant witness to come forward and testify in a trial. As Lacey walks to her car, she rifles through her bag, searching for her car keys. When she has them in her hand, she looks up and sees a dead woman holding on to the framework of the car. The woman is standing, breathing, but Lacey knows that no one can survive for long with the kinds of wounds the woman has. Lacey calls for back-up and an ambulance but there is no chance that anything can be done for the woman. When Lacey's commanding officer, Detective Inspector Dana Tulloch, arrives, she orders Lacey into the Tyvek suit crime scene investigators wear. Lacey is, herself, a crime scene. The suit is to protect the evidence of the wounds that are on Lacey's street clothes. She held the woman and Lacey is evidence of the brutality.

Lacey is burdened with guilt. If she hadn't been looking into her purse, she might have seen the attacker. If she could see the attacker, the attacker could see her and the woman might not be dead. DI Tulloch discourages Lacey from thoughts that will only serve to drive her crazy but the next day, when an anonymous letter arrives at the home of a newspaper reporter, it seems there might be a connection to Lacey - her name is mentioned in the letter.

More frightening is the information in the letter. The killer is re-creating the crimes of Jack the Ripper and this woman, Geraldine Jones, is only the first to die. The killer seems to know something more about Lacey. Since childhood, she has been fascinated by serial killers and she is an expert on the Ripper. The method and the means are a message to Lacey that she can't understand. Why? Why has she been singled out? As more women die and there is no connection to Lacey, Tulloch and the rest of the team become convinced that the young and inexperienced detective may be in danger.

There have been any number of mysteries and thrillers that have referenced Jack the Ripper but Bolton does it as if the story has never been told before. The author sprinkles the story with credible clues identifying possible killers. Lacey's back story contributes to some confusion about the motive and the method of choosing the victims. The book is 400 pages and begs to be read straight through and as the story approaches its end, it might be helpful to have a pen and a piece of paper available to keep the confusion at bay.

This is definitely a must read for anyone who enjoys police procedurals that play by the rules but take the reader down unexpected paths. There are descriptions of the extreme brutality inflicted on the victims but, again, it would be difficult to be a fan of this genre without having been exposed to the crimes of Jack the Ripper. It is easy to scan the parts that are too unpleasant and still enjoy the story.

Bolton is uniquely adept in this genre, each of her thrillers stand-alone scary, a writer with a vivid imagination and the skill to draw readers into complicated scenarios that are never what they seem. Just as London Detective Constable Lacey Flint is stepping from her car, a woman staggers toward and stumbles against the constable, the wide-eyed victim slashed through the jugular, blood gushing from jagged wounds down her torso, a last breath slipping away. Just like that, Flint is caught up in a stream of murders that evoke the terror of Jack-the-Ripper's murderous rampage in 1881 London. Before long, the acceleration and frequency of these specific murders indicate an intentional connection to the Ripper's crimes. Lacey is kept on the fringes, but her detailed knowledge of Ripper lore and crime scenes inspire her inclusion in the inner circles of the investigation, a PR nightmare. Flint keeps her own history to herself, experiences contributing to her professional skills but also the source of deadly secrets.

A female lead investigator and an inscrutable detective have both focused on Lacey, but for different reasons, DI Dana Tulloch drawing on Flint's Ripper expertise and DI Joesbury deeply suspicious of the young woman's proximity to the murder and her growing importance to the case. Bolton's nightmarish tale is a collage of gory images, Ripper mythology and the emotional involvement of a young detective who knows more than she is telling. Grim crime scenes in historical Victorian buildings, the shadowy underbelly of London's unseen population, the poor and disenfranchised, the choice of victims, a disparate class system, a curious journalist and the haunted corridors of Flint's most painful memories lead to a confrontation beneath the city where a twisted killer holds an innocent victim hostage. Flint is a helpless observer in a life and death moment as her carefully-constructed world crumbles, the past steals the present and destroys the future. Bolton delivers once again in a thriller filled with hope, danger, secrets, betrayals- and more than a few surprises. Luan Gaines/2011.

Really enjoyed this one. I hesitated to read it because I read many reviews that said "hate it when author hides clues from the reader until the end". Since that's the basic premise of a mystery, I thought that meant it was so poorly written that I wouldn't enjoy it, but I downloaded the Kindle version anyway and took a chance. I'm so glad I did. Now, I look forward to reading more Lacey Flint mysteries. It was rather dark and went into some graphic details about the murders but the whole Ripper angle was a plus for me as I've found the mystery of Jack the Ripper and the various theories of who he might have been fascinating. If the author hadn't kept basic clues about Lacey to herself, she wouldn't have been able to add the twist at the end. The writing was very good and although the reader knew that there was some mystery about who Lacey was, you still felt drawn to her even if you can't exactly relate to her. Ms Bolton has made Lacey an complex individual that keeps the reader turning the pages wanting to find out how the Ripper type murders are related to her and her past. This one is worth reading.

There have been many books about serial killers before, especially Jack the Ripper copycat killers. Nothing new about that. So what makes Now You See Me different from them? The author has taken the serial killer concept, made it even more shocking, hard-hitting, and added an emotional depth which I often find missing in such books. All this along with a fantastic plot and brilliant characterization makes Now You See Me unforgettable - a book which will linger on for quite a while.

DC Lacey Flint is a protagonist who continues to surprise, and with each page, I loved her more. Right from the start, the reader is aware that we don't know a lot about her. She's hiding something, something big and shocking about her past which continues to haunt her. The mystery of the killer and that of Lacey's past will keep the pages turning. The tension built up with each page, until I had reached a point where I could not keep the book down without finding out the ending.

All throughout the book, the feeling of something sinister lurking in the background is very strong. The wait for the next murder and the fear that it will be even more violent than the last one, will keep you in your seat. The author doesn't hold back on descriptions of the murders. Every minute details of the grisly murders, committed by what appears to be a psychopath, is described. At times, it was so vivid and real that it scared me quite a bit. To think that so many years ago, the real "Jack the Ripper" actually did the same to his unfortunate victims, is horrible.

One of my favorite things about Now You See Me is the chemistry between Mark Joesbury, who is involved in the investigations, and Lacey. Mark suspects Lacey from the start, yet they are both strangely drawn to each other. The romance element is very small, yet memorable. Something that I really appreciate about S.J Bolton's books, is that they are stand-alones. But this time, I really hope that the author continues Lacey's story. The book ended in a way that there was so much of uncertainty involved - I am hoping that this is not the end of Lacey and Joesbury's story.

As for the ending, I can only say "WOW!". I thought I had guessed it all. It turned out I was not even remotely close to the truth. Having read S.J Bolton previous books, I knew not to expect an easy or a neatly wrapped up ending. Still, I never saw it coming. As the killer was revealed, it left me open-mouthed, and as I was trying to come to terms with that, there came another shocking revelation.

What makes S.J Bolton's books stand out from many others in her genre, is that the characters and the story don't leave you so easily. I found myself thinking about the book, long after I had finished it. Excellent character development, a gripping plot and numerous twists make Now You See Me immensely readable.

Overall:
A plot that moves at a breakneck speed, haunting secrets and truths from the past, and a killer who will frighten the living daylights out of you. A deliciously satisfying read!

Recommended?
Highly!

I am quite amazed at how many twists and surprises there are in this story. I never would have guessed the ending, but it was done in a way that absolutely made sense, it was just entirely unpredictable.

The story is set in London, and has a decidedly British feel. It was interesting to see what British police procedure is like. It’s not very different from Canadian or American procedure, but there were a few quirks that made the story feel a bit foreign.

Along that theme, I listened to the audiobook version, and it was narrated with an amazing British accent. I love accents, and found this one to be soothing and easy to listen to. The entire story felt melodic, and was easy listening, even with the tension and death in the contents.

This was an example where audiobook narration really lends an specific feel to a story. The plotline was quite horrific and detailed, with lots of Ripper lore included, but the audiobook narration rose it up to a very easy listening level.

I think my expectations for this book was way too high. I mean I liked the book, it was well-written, had interesting characters and the story was good with some nice twists. But I just never really got "into" the story, sure the Jack the Ripper copycat story was good and I liked that Lacey Flint had some really dark secrets that she really needed to keep away from the Met. I also liked Detective Inspector Dana Tulloch and Mark Joesbury. I especially liked the love-hate relationship between Lacey and Mark. I just wish the story had been more intense. I never had the "OMG what is going to happen next feeling" while I read the book. Not even at the end.

But the ending as good despite the lack of real intensity. I liked the revelations and I want to know more about Lacey Flint so when I have time will I definitely read the next book.

“From the very beginning, this case had been about me. At some level, I’d always known that.” -S.J. Bolton, Now You See Me

After reading Now You See Me, I don’t think I can ever listen to Julie Andrews sing “My Favorite Things” in The Sound of Music the same way ever again. It may seem like an odd statement to make, but if you have read this novel, then you will understand why I said that. If not, then read it! J

I have been saying this quite often lately, but I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I normally would.

The premise of this book was really tempting for me. I don’t read them as much as I would like, but murder mysteries, especially serial killing mystery books have always been fascinating and fun to read.

This story starts off with a scene that quickly grabbed my attention and all I wanted to do was keep reading to find out what was going to happen next. Which is what I did in between work and horrible toothaches/headaches that would not let up last week!

Everything pretty much takes place in London. Some of the terms/language used took a bit to get used to, but I managed fine.

Detective Lacey Flint, accidentally stumbles upon a woman bleeding to death on her car one afternoon. From that point on Lacey is in the middle of this investigation rather she likes it or not. As the investigation digs deeper into who could be behind it, the murders become grislier and even Lacey is not safe.

Lacey is has baggage, but she is also gutsy, determined, and knows her stuff. I pretty much liked her from the get go.

Her relationship with Senior Officer, Mark Joesbury is rocky, to say the least. He is a bit suspicious of her from the start and immediately suspects that she is in on the ripper-liker murders.

There is a light dusting of romance with these two; Lacey and Mark sort of dance around their true feelings. It is hinted that there might be more. I am hoping there is a little more to go on in the following Lacy Flint novels.

In a way S.J. Bolton’s book reminded me of an Agatha Christie novel because she always would surprise the reader with an ending you did not see coming. That is how I felt reading Now You See Me. When the first twist hit, I stopped and had to go “Wait, what just happened???” And just when I thought I might know where things were going and I had it figured out, I was thrown for another loop, and then another, and towards the end another twist! Rarely has a book surprised me that often. Normally I am not a fan of police procedural mysteries. I always thought they would be too textbook like and not enjoyable. This is not the case. Turns out I was wrong. I enjoyed this one a lot. The author describes the world around Lacey in such great detail, it felt like I was in London with her. Who knows, maybe I won’t be so hesitant to try other police procedural mystery books from now on. If you are a fan of Psychological Thrillers and Murder Mysteries, then give Now You See Me a try, especially since it is on sale for a limited time at $2.99!

**I received this book from Minotaur Books/St. Martin’s Press in exchange for nothing except my honest opinion. **

A highly regarded author internationally in the United States, her native England and elsewhere, S. J. Bolton revisits one of history's most confounding and baffling series of murders in a contemporary setting, with a number of unexpected twists and turns thrown in for good measure. Presented in the form of a first-person narrative told by someone who knows much more than she's telling, NOW YOU SEE ME will keep you guessing and leave you thinking.

The book centers on Lacey Flint, an up-and-coming detective constable in London who literally stumbles upon a murder victim mere seconds after the attack took place. An enigmatic but well-known reporter receives a letter about the murder barely a day later, drawing comparisons between the killing and first canonical murder of Jack the Ripper. The letter also mentions Lacey by name. Lacey, as it turns out, has had an almost lifelong interest in the Ripper killings. It soon becomes clear that an extremely disturbed person is on the loose, bent on replicating the Ripper's bloody acts of almost a century previously. As more victims are discovered and the investigation proceeds, it's obvious that a tangential connection links the murdered women. Yet the link hardly seems to constitute a motive for the murders, leaving the police at something of a loss.

It is in fact Lacey who slowly becomes aware of who is committing the murders and why they are taking place. A superior officer assigned to the case suspects that Lacey knows much more than she is saying and that she may be the cause of the killings. He may be right, though not in the way he suspects. As the killer continues to strike on the anniversary of each of Jack's murders --- and notes are sent to potential victims --- the police find themselves in a race in which they are pitted against a wily and brilliant adversary, who in fact may be one of their own.

Bolton herself seems quite the expert on the Ripper exploits, and all but the most schooled in the lore of the Ripper will find much to learn here through the encyclopedic mind and disturbed emotions of Lacey. Bolton drops hints here, there and everywhere as to what is occurring, but anyone guessing the end may find themselves wrong once or twice as Bolton turns things upside down before revealing the sudden and jarring conclusion. The position of headliner, however, is shared by Lacey and the city of London itself, as Bolton takes on a geographical and historical tour of the city and its environs, jumping back and forth in time and space.

Mystery lovers and anglophiles will find much to enjoy and embrace here, as will those for whom the mystery of Jack the Ripper lives on.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

"...of the most notorious killer who ever lived". The quote of course refers to Jack the Ripper, and the connection with this book is superbly crafted. I just finished reading this novel and I still have goosebumps. This is a book full of mystery and suspense, but there are many dark and disturbing scenes, and the story behind the killer going on a spree is mesmerizing and gut-wrenching at the same time.

The events are narrated by Lacey Flint, a police officer who is truly and enthralling main character. She possesses a very particular personality, and in many ways a male view of things. Also, there are some potential mental health issues that make us doubt about her role in the events. She is involved in tracking down a killer that is acting by copying the murder committed by saucy Jack a long time ago. In this pursue, she is joined by another disturbing character, Joesbury, whose intentions are not at all clear, and even though he is a police officer, he comes across as somewhat creepy.

There are many connections in this book, not only the one to the Ripper, we also get snippets of events that transpired eleven years ago, and are left wondering about the relevance to the current plot. There are also side stories, such as the rape of a fifteen-year-old by a group of teenagers and Lacey's attempts to get her to denounce the culprits. All these factors make for a complex story, but it all really works well together, and at the end I could not help but be amazed by how crafty the author was in weaving the different stories together.

As a bonus, in the note at the end, the author goes into a summary of the different theories about who the Ripper was and into her assessment of these. In particular, she comments in Patricia Cornwell's theory in her famous book. I enjoyed this brief section at the end. Overall I was quite impressed by the quality of this novel and I will certainly look for further works by this author. Be warned though, as I mentioned already there are many violent scenes and it's a dark plot, so if these are aspects that bother you, tread carefully.

After an interview in which she is once again unable to persuade a young woman, the victim of gang rape, to testify, DC Lacey Flint walks to her car searching in her purse for her keys. As she reaches the car, a blonde woman bleeding copiously stumbles into her and dies in her arms. The next day, an anonymous letter arrives. The killer is re-creating the crimes of Jack the Ripper. He seems to have a bond with Lacey and mentions her in the letter.

The deaths of women mount up, but the connection between them is unclear. As Lacey fills the police in on the Ripper;s crimes, the evidence points to Lacey being somehow at the heart of the case. In fact, DI Joesbury, working with DI Tulloch on the case while he convalesces, suspects that Lacey may be responsible for the murders. The tension escalates as the team tries to prevent another murder and for Lacey it becomes almost unbearable as her past starts to haunt her.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Although there are many books based on the Ripper mystery, this one has a fresh aspect. The plot is full of twists and as the clues kept coming, I found the book hard to put down. The characters, Lacy, Tulloch, and Joesbury are likeable. Their reactions under stress are realistic and in each there are hidden depths.

The plot is full of twists. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the game changed again. You can feel the frustration of the detectives trying to solve the rash of baffling murders. If you like a mystery where the clues are there, but well hidden, you'll love this book.

I reviewed this book for Net Galley.

I happened to read LOST, the third book featuring Lacey Flint, first and picked up this one to fill in some backstory details that were alluded to in that one. I expected the overall experience of this book to be somewhat diminished since I was well aware that Lacey (and some of the other characters) had survived to figure into later books. I was so wrong, early on I became totally engrossed in the story and could not bear to put it down until I finished - less than 24 hours later.

A young police officer, Lacey Flint, happens upon a young woman who had been viciously attacked only moments before. When the investigating officers arrive they are uncertain whether Lacey is an innocent passerby or perhaps a brazen killer. When a letter arrives at a newspaper claiming that the crime is just the first event by a killer intent on recreating Jack the Ripper's murders Lacey is seen in yet another light, that of potential victim since the note mentioned her by name. As the investigation continues we learn more about all involved, Lacey, the other members of the investigating team and the killer giving the reader all the needed clues to solve the mysteries but I doubt that anyone will figure it all out before the totally surprising ending.

As soon as I finished this one I reached for the next because I could not wait to find out what would happen in Lacey's life next.

In Now You See Me, London cop Lacey Flint literally stumbles onto a stabbing. Lacey, who's moonlighting in an effort to get the attention of a specific division she hopes to work for after her training period is up, wasn't supposed to be there. The victim, a woman who dies in Lacey's arms, is only later tied to Jack the Ripper -- when a reporter receives a modern version of the famous "Dear Boss" letter. As the connections fall into place, though, Lacey realizes that she herself may soon be deemed a suspect. Now it's up to Lacey to catch the killer or risk having her own secrets exposed.

I loved it! Lacey as a character was fantastic. She's got secrets -- secrets from those around her, but also secrets she hides from the reader. The Jack the Ripper theory is excellent and plausible and the twist in the plot, because almost every great thriller has one, is a little expected in some ways, but works oh, so well!