I squeaked through one more book before I high-tailed it to my local library to get the sequel to Ellie Marney’s None Shall Sleep, Some Shall Break. I think this is also the quickest I read through anything this year. Usually, I take my sweet time, reading about fifty pages a day, but I just couldn’t get through this fast enough!
We pick up about three months after the events of the first novel, so that means everyone is healed. Physically, at least. Emotionally, Emma is back at OSU’s campus just trying to get through it day by day with the help of her therapist. Not only is she not really over her ordeal with serial killer, Huxton, but now she has these new, horrific experiences compounded on top of that. She got pretty close with a ruthless teen serial killer, Simon Gutmunsson, who she ended up seeing firsthand what carnage he is capable of. For whatever reason, he’s got enough of a soft spot and restraint to leave Emma be. Physically, at least. Mentally, it seems he’s taken up a bit of residence and doesn’t seem to be letting go anytime soon.
Emma assumes keeping her distance away from the FBI, who ultimately used her as a tool, is the best way she can move on. Too bad another psycho has other plans, and her face on his mind. This new killer has so many details lining up perfectly to Huxton’s killings, that it most certainly has to be a copycat. Just to be sure, Agent Carter urges Travis to use their connection to get Emma involved again. It’s either that or be put in protective custody. And as much as Emma wants nothing to do with this world, she also knows her history can possibly help catch this new killer. She’s all about saving people, and so is Travis. Their biggest issue is their empathy. Both towards other people but more importantly towards each other.
Something newer this time around is the involvement of Simon Gutmusson’s twin sister, Kristen. She’s Simon’s polar opposite. While they look so similar, Kristen is pure good, while Simon is pure evil. Travis logistically can see this, but obviously his trust is lacking given that her brother is the reason his father is dead. With this confliction, Emma also has to deal with the fact that now everyone she works with knows all the nitty gritty details from real life nightmare. She’s one tough cookie and continues to put her mental state in peril as she goes back to visit Simon for leads on this new case. As before, Emma and Travis continually put themselves in danger, but it seems their inexperience is a benefit in these cases.
Emotionally, this book was so satisfying. I hope to God that Marney has plans for at least a third novel. I would also imagine that another novel would give her the chance to tell a new kind of story rather than follow a similar formula we got in these two. Not that I dislike this story at all! But I could see it getting old if she kept it up too much longer. What continues to surprise me is how familiar she is with Northeast Ohio and the Pittsburgh area. Light research I’ve done tells me she’s Australian! That’s wild. Also, the details she provides about the FBI are pretty good for someone that doesn’t live in the US. It also still gives off really strong Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs vibes, so if those are appealing to you at all, these novels are definitely worth checking out!