Book Review: Dark Streets Cold Suburbs by Aimee Hix
Disclaimer: I received this Uncorrected Proof through local bookstore Once Upon a Crime to facilitate writing this review. No other compensation was offered or requested. As my copy was an uncorrected proof, minor changes (mostly fixing typos) may appear in the final product.
Apprentice private investigator Willa Pennington is still recovering, both mentally and physically, from the wounds she received during her first major case. Among other things, she’s gotten serious about taking self-defense lessons. So serious that instructor Adam asks her to demonstrate her skills against ambushers in front of a beginners’ class.
Dropping two out of three (the third one was a surprise) isn’t bad, but it’s not ideal. But Willa telling her story touches a chord in one member of the class, and the private eye finds herself making a connection with troubled teen Aja.
Willa’s family has been walking on eggshells since the incident, and she’s having relationship trouble with lover Seth, an Alcohol Firearms and Tobacco agent. She knows Seth is dealing with his own heavy issues, but that doesn’t make him less of a jerk. So it’s almost a relief when Aja calls for help.
Turns out Aja’s trouble is her ex-boyfriend Damian, who’s turned stalker and become increasingly violent. Willa is glad to take the case, in addition to the cold case her mentor on the police force asked her to review. But then two cases turn into three when a major suspect turns up dead. The suburbs may not be gritty, but in the early spring, they’re still plenty cold.
This is the second Willa Pennington novel. Per the backstory, she was a cop until her best friend died in Afghanistan, then Willa decided to join her father’s private investigation firm as a change of direction. In no way, however, is it a safer job!
The good: This is a fast-paced book which I was able to read quickly. I liked the realistic treatment of Willa’s recovery from trauma. She’s much better than she was, but still has issues both physically and emotionally. Even though I didn’t read the first book, I can tell she’s learned from experience to use her network of friends and family more wisely, and insure that plenty of backup is handy when the chips are down.
Several of the characters are likable, especially Aja, Willa’s primary client. She’s a poor little rich girl who’s been given more money than face time with her parents, and trying too hard to act tough enough to handle problems a teen shouldn’t have to.
Less good: Willa’s overloaded with quirks, which is honestly a thing she shares with a lot of fictional private eyes. Layer the trauma on top, and it’s difficult to get to the core of the character. See if you can guess which quirk is the important one that comes back at the end of the story.
The actual mystery bit, the cold case, was perhaps a bit too easy for me to solve–about fifty pages ahead of Willa. (The conclusion of the stalker/current day murder case is more satisfying, but relies much less on catching the clues.)
Also, all of Willa’s friends and family are top-tier at their skills, including her little brother, a hacker who is government agency material at age sixteen. It’s a bit lop-sided against the baddies.
Content notes: stalking, domestic abuse, child neglect.
Overall, a competent book that should please fans of tough gal private eyes.
