Today I am super excited to share my review of another book I group read, and we unanimously endorsed, A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty! Publishing on March 12, 2019 by Minotaur Books, this is the second in the Harper McClain series.
My Thoughts:
There’s a reason The Echo Killing was a fan favorite book, and A Beautiful Corpse is its much-anticipated follow-up. Woo hoo! There are actually quite a few reasons!
Everyone’s favorite crime reporter, Harper McClain, is back. Savannah is the setting with its Spanish moss, gobs of southern history and secrets, and sweet tea hospitality on the front steps of antebellum houses. Murders don’t happen downtown, though. Until this one.
Naomi Scott is the victim, just 24 years old. She has her life ahead of her, attending law school, working as a bartender. Of course there were no witnesses to the shooting, but there are three potential suspects. Naomi’s boyfriend, her boss, and the DA’s son, who happens to be an ex-boyfriend of Naomi’s.
The city of Savannah is up in arms with this murder. They want answers and justice. Harper is hot on the trail of someone. She’s putting together a story of obsession and betrayal. But at the same time, two things are interfering: she’s being followed and her job is on the line due to budget cuts. Will either of these things put a stop to Harper’s hard work?
A Beautiful Corpse is a fast-paced, page-turning thriller. Tons of mystery and intrigue fill the plot keeping you guessing and analyzing. Harper becomes fleshed out in three-dimension here. She’s completely human, relatable, and endearing, as we learn more about her past and cheer on her impassioned work to find Naomi’s killer.
Overall, Harper McClain is a champion of a main character, and wherever Christi Daugherty takes this character and series, I will follow.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
From Christi Daugherty, author of The Echo Killing, comes another pulse-pounding suspenseful thriller featuring crime reporter Harper McClain.
For a woman, being killed by someone who claims to love her is the most ordinary murder of all.
With its antebellum houses and ancient oak trees draped in a veil of Spanish moss, Savannah’s graceful downtown is famous around the world. When a woman is killed in the heart of that affluent district, the shock is felt throughout the city. But for crime reporter Harper McClain, this story is personal. The corpse has a familiar face.
Only twenty-four years old, Naomi Scott was just getting started. A law student, tending bar to make ends meet, she wanted to change the world. Instead, her life ended in the dead of night at the hands of an unseen gunman. There are no witnesses to the crime. The police have three suspects: Scott’s boyfriend, who has a criminal past he claims he’s put behind him, her boss, who stalked another young bartender two years ago, and the district attorney’s son, who Naomi dated until their relationship ended in acrimony. All three men claim to love her. Could one of them be her killer?
With the whole city demanding answers, Harper unravels a tangled story of obsession and jealousy. But the pressures on her go beyond the murder. The newspaper is facing more layoffs. Her boss fears both their jobs are on the line. And Harper begins to realize that someone is watching her every move. Someone familiar and very dangerous.
Someone who told her to run before it’s too late…
Check out these reviews by the other Book Besties:
Berit at Audio Killed the Bookmark
Holly at Dressed to Read
Mackenzie at PhDiva
Have you read A Beautiful Corpse, or is it on your TBR? Happy Reading! ~ Jenni THR
I need to read this series and meet Harper too. Fab review, Jenn.
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Thanks, Diana! You really do! This series is right up your alley!
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Excellent review, Jen! I haven’t read the series, but have these added. Sounds amazing and glad you enjoyed it. 😉
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Thanks, favorite M! It’s a wonderful series! I’m not much of a series person, really, and I enjoyed it! ♥️
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Wow! Great review and picture, Jennifer! I cannot wait to read this intriguing thriller and added it to my tbr list. Happy Thursday!
❤️📚🌸🕵️♀️
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Thanks, Virginia! This was such a fun and intriguing read! ♥️ I hope you had a wonderful Thursday!
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It’s wonderful that a book in a series makes you so want to read the next book in the series. Glad you so enjoyed this one, Jennifer!
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Thanks, Marialyce! It was fun and I love the setting and the main character!
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Wonderful review my friend!😊💜
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Thanks, Sus! Happy Friday eve! ♥️
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I have the flu!😷😰
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Oh no! I’m so sorry! I hope you are feeling better soon! ♥️ My cough and cold is still hanging on, but the other symptoms are gone, thank goodness.
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The setting sounds wonderful, and I love how excited you are about this book!
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Thanks, Tammy! I love a Savannah setting! It’s always an intriguing backdrop.
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Another author I haven’t heard of so thank you for featuring! I love stories set in Savannah so that got my attention right away. I’m definitely going to check out both books. Excellent review, Jennifer!
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Thanks, Jonetta! I don’t think you’ll regret it. This series is definitely right up your alley. The Savannah setting is SO good.
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Oh I cannot wait for the next book either! She really set that up well! Love this review I love this book and love reading with you!🌹
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Thanks, Berit! It was a treasure of a thriller read! Can’t wait for the next!
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Wonderful review Jenni! Can’t wait to see what Harper is up to next!
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Thanks, Holls! Me, too! I predict it’s something big!
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You’ve got me interested, so much so, I just put in an order for The Echo Killing! Got to read book 1 first, right? 😀
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Yes, Alexandra! You definitely don’t want to miss that one! I hope you love it! I think I enjoyed that one a tad more than the second, so I think you are in for a treat because both are great! Enjoy!
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I’m looking forward to it. 😀
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I love a fast paced thriller. This sounds like one I’d enjoy. Wonderful review. 🙂
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Thanks, Chrissi! I think you would too! There’s a first book in the series that is equally good!
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Wonderful review, Jennifer!!! You are so right, this one absolutely nailed book 2 with a page turning mystery! Harper is awesome. Loved reading this with you!
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Thanks, Mack! Love Harper! A pleasure reading with you as always! ♥️
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Sounds good! I’m always partial to the investigative journalist type of protagonist – gives them a bit more freedom than police detectives who bug me when they step too far beyond the rules.
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Yes! That’s such a great point, FF! I agree and this MC is really well done.
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This sounds amazing! Thanks for bringing it and this author to my attention!
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It’s my pleasure, Anne! I mentioned to Jonetta this author is up her alley, and I think she’s up yours too! Don’t forget the first book- The Echo Killing. So good!
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Excellent review Jennifer! Glad we all had a good time with this one! 🙂
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Thanks, Kendall! Me, too! ♥️
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Wonderful review, Jennifer! I can’t wait to read this one.
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Thank you, Darinda! I hope you love it! ♥️
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Wonderful review, Jennifer! This was my first time reading the series, but it was so good! I love Harper, and the setting was just perfect! I actually wrote my review last night after walking around Savannah (it’ll be posted to my blog on Monday), so it felt fitting. I’m reading The Echo Killing now since I enjoyed this one so much and really can’t wait for a 3rd book. Glad we both enjoyed it!
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Thanks, Steph! It was SO good and YES, so fitting to be in Savannah while you wrote the review! I’m happy you are loving this series too. Hope you are feeling well and having a lovely end to vacation. ♥️
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You’re welcome! It definitely was so good. I had to read The Echo Killing since I loved it so much. That was fantastic too. It really was fitting. I wish I’d brought the book with me to take a pic of with the Spanish moss. I had a great vacation and am sad that it’s over. But it’s always nice to be home again. I’m feeling better except this tooth that’s just driving me insane. I hope the dentist can take care of it. I hope you’re all better and enjoyed your weekend! ❤
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This sounds so suspenseful – very curious to see how the author sets up each potential suspect!!
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This was so well-done, LP! I had a lot of fun with it!
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This book wasn’t on my radar, but it sounds like a real page turner. Adding it to my TBR now based on your group’s unanimous love for it. 🙂
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Thanks, Suzanne! If you can, start with The Echo Killing, the first in this series. This second one can definitely stand alone, but you’ll get so much more out of Harper’s character with the backstory and The Echo Killing is a huge fan favorite over on Goodreads. They are quick reads.
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Wonderful review Jennifer, I love a good suspense thriller. Adding this one to my TBR 😊
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Thanks, Rose! Make sure to add The Echo Killing, too, if you can! It stars the series with a Big Bang!
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You’re welcome! I will add Echo Killing to start with 😊
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Well, this is certainly my kind of series 🙂 I love mysteries and police investigations but sometimes it’s nice to see a different sort of character, like a reporter doing all the digging 🙂
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Yes! The reporter made it fresh! And she’s just a great character, too, Norrie.
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Terrific review Jennifer. I’m reading the first one now and have this one on hold. I love it so far!
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Thanks, Mackey! I hope you enjoy them both!
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Wonderful review Jennifer. The Besties have done it again, added to my growing TBR.
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It’s such a great series, Carla! I hope you have a lot of fun with it!
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