Review: The One That Got Away by Nicky James
SYNOPSIS:
Someone is following me. I’m not imagining it. I’m not crazy.
Charlie Falkingham is convinced someone is after him. There are signs. There are clues, but no one believes him. After living through a childhood horror, Charlie suffers from a severe paranoia disorder, among many things, and the Hamilton Police have labeled him The Boy Who Cried Wolf.
When the only person on the force who ever listened to Charlie’s concerns retires, who can Charlie reach out to for help?
Arrogant and young, Officer Takoda Dyani has a chip on his shoulder a mile wide. He’s rude and brash and doesn’t play well with others. He has more enemies than friends, and he doesn’t care. When his senior officer assigns him to be Charlie’s consultant, Takoda knows it will end badly. He doesn’t have time to coddle a prissy rich boy.
However, if he can’t calm Charlie’s paranoid delusions and act civil for once, he’ll lose his job.
But are they delusions?
The longer he knows Charlie, the more Takoda realizes, something isn’t right.
Is someone stalking Charlie, or is Takoda getting too wrapped up in Charlie’s fragile world?
REVIEW:
I was looking for a break from what I’ve been reading and decided it was time to change up genres. Enter this suspense filled read. I loved the psychological aspect of this story. Watching Charlie slowly unravel and the never ending mystery of is it in Charlie’s head or is it real had me filled with anticipation as I turned the page. And for being my first Nicky James book, this has me definitely wanting to check out her other work.
I think I need to start with the character contrast. The differences between Charlie and Takoda are night and day. While Charlie is fragile, soft-spoken, and fair; Takoda is harsh edges, rough personality, and anger. These two initially clash but over the course of the story, these two bring out something in each other. Charlie finds his own voice and confidence thanks to Takoda’s support. In exchange, Takoda finds his softer side and learns to be vulnerable. The characters both grew leaps and bounds and this was all while a stalker and hidden danger was lurking nearby.
I’d say Nicky James did a decent job balancing the suspense with the budding romance. There were a few moments when I thought that “this isn’t the right time for the characters to be kissing” but overall, it didn’t take me out of the story. The mystery part of the story was captivating. There is nothing I love more than a who-done-it when I can’t figure out the criminal before the characters.
I think my only grievance is I wanted a little more closure at the end. Things wrapped up nicely but it felt a little rushed once the eminent danger passed. A chapter or two of pure happiness and peace that these characters desperately deserved would have went a long way. Otherwise, it was an enjoyable read from a new-to-me author.
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