Heather’s Bookshelf: Spy Girls
Author: Joanna Vander Vlugt
Released: 03/16/24
Genre: Adult Thriller
“Adam stepped forward. His hands cupped my face and his forehead pressed against mine. ‘Do not let her get to you. Do not show her emotion or fear, no matter how badly you want to ram her head into the table. Stay calm. Staying calm will keep you alive. Cocky will get you killed.’”
“Spy Girls: A Jade & Sage Thriller Series” follows Jade Thyme, a lawyer in Victoria, Canada as she gets pulled into a world full of spies, danger, and secrets.
Jade’s life is pretty normal. She’s a busy prosecutor trying to do her job well while also developing a relationship with her sister, Sage, and her boyfriend Adam. She is not a fan of the man she is prosecuting, but if her case goes as she hopes, she won’t have to worry about that for much longer. But then her life starts to unravel…
First, a corrupt Chief Justice is murdered, then an agent goes missing, and then Sage’s girlfriend disappears. In the midst of it all, Jade’s career is under fire after the trial she prosecuted is brought under review. Everyone in her life has secrets and just as she unravels one, more reveal themselves, each more dangerous than the last.
Will Jade be able to figure out the truth behind who murdered the Chief Justice and how everyone in her life seems to be connected to the crime? Or will she be too late to save those she loves and herself?
Trigger Warning: violence, sexual situation, reference to sexual assault and underage sexual assualt, adult language, murder, torture
Overall, I enjoyed this story. A majority of the tale is told through Jade’s POV and as a protagonist, she’s a good one. She starts out as a relatively reserved, career-driven woman and continues to develop and grow as a character throughout the book. With every revelation, she expands her need to develop her skills including the need for improved observation, survival, and defense. She expands her knowledge as a lawyer and adapts them to those of a spy. While not exactly confident by the end of the story, she certainly is not the same naive prosecutor she was in the beginning of the story. The same development can be said about many of the ancillary characters. However, it’s more that different aspects of their characters are revealed along with their secrets. The pacing of the story is inconsistent, with some portions feeling rushed and others dragging on. I most enjoyed the first and last thirds of the tale and found the middle to drag on a bit. I also found there were parts of the story that seemed to jump without transition. There were a few times I found myself re-reading a section to make sure I hadn’t missed a portion of dialogue or prose that connected sections or chapters. By the end of the story, I feel it really found it’s way. The author wrapped everything up and did a nice job of incorporating all of the events and characters from throughout the story. I can clearly see how this book may spawn a sequel or two. I could also see a prequel featuring Adam and Jan.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A thriller with a well-developed protagonist and seemingly endless connections between all of the ancillary characters. Pacing issues and gaps in storytelling are a challenge overcome by the clear ending.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with Joanna Vander Vlugt
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Find it for purchase here
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