Orphaned at an early age, DCI Holly Craig grew up in the small Welsh coastal town of Pontyrhudd. As soon as she was old enough, she ran away to London and joined the police. Now, fifteen years later, she’s back in her old hometown to investigate what seems at first to be a simple hit-and-run, but which soon escalates into something far deadlier and unexpectedly personal―something that will take all of her peculiar talents to solve.

As my TBR pile threatens to actually consume me, I love turning to novellas to help break things up…there’s just something really satisfying about a book you can read in one or two sittings! Enter TOR.COM PUBLISHING, my main source for these little bite-sized books!

I read Gareth L. Powell’s new novella, Ragged Alice over the course of one day, and while it didn’t blow me away, it certainly was an enjoyable & very readable book. It’s kind of a supernatural thriller…? I think? With some distinct horror elements. It’s also got a sort of moody buddy cop vibe, which is something I love.

This is the story of DCI (Detective Chief Inspector) Holly Craig, who after a 15-year stint working in London, returns to her small Welsh hometown. When we meet her, the case she’s been assigned is a hit & run homicide. It seems to be an isolated incident, until the bodies start piling up. And fuck, for such a short book (around 200 pages) the bodies REALLY start piling up. It becomes clear to Holly that not only are these murders all connected, but that they also connect back to her own dark past.

Holly also has a “gift”, where she can sort of see people’s auras…determine whether they are hiding a dark secret or…something. The mechanics of this are never really explored, and more to the point, this ability Holly has almost barely factors into the book. I was kinda surprised & disappointed by that, to be honest.

I really enjoyed the dynamics between Holly & her partner, Scott. He’s a bit more straight laced & by-the-book, as compared to her general sullenness & always-hung-over kind of vibe. And I mean, overall, this isn’t the most character-driven book I’ve read, but they made for an enjoyable pair.

This one was just a little bit flat for me. Powell does a great job setting the mood of the story, and it has that sort of rain-soaked/quirky British small town by the sea vibe, which I dug. And it also works well as a police procedural…they even have the room with the white board & the pictures & the arrows connecting everyone…you gotta love that. So, again, an enjoyable read, but not the most memorable.

Big thanks to TOR.COM PUBLISHING for sending me a copy! Ragged Alice releases today, April 23rd!