Love Me Not

DI Helen Grace, Book 7

By: M. J. Arlidge

Narrated by: Elizabeth Bower

Length: 8 hrs

Publisher's Summary

Penguin presents the unabridged, downloadable audiobook edition of Love Me Not by M. J. Arlidge, read by Elizabeth Bower.

She Loves Me

A woman's body lies in the road. At first it looks like a tragic accident. But when Helen Grace arrives on the scene it's clear she's looking at a coldblooded killing. But why would anyone target a much-loved wife and mother?

She Loves Me Not

Across town, a shopkeeper is killed while his customers are left unharmed. But what lies behind the killer's choices?

She Loves Me

Who lives? Who dies? Who's next? The clock is ticking.

She Loves Me Not

If Helen can't solve this deadly puzzle then more blood will be shed. But any mistake and it might be her own....

©2017 M. J. Arlidge (P)2017 Penguin Books Ltd.

Critic Reviews

"Helen Grace is one of the greatest heroes to come along in years." (Jeffery Deaver)

"The new Jo Nesbo" (Judy Finnigan)

"Fast paced and nailbitingly tense...gripping." ( The Sun)

Hug your children

This book was probably my least favorite. All I wanted to do was hug my children and thank God, that I was never a mother like this with a child like this.

Who writes the descriptions?

Would you try another book from M. J. Arlidge and/or Elizabeth Bower?

Yes

If you’ve listened to books by M. J. Arlidge before, how does this one compare?

I didn't enjoy it as much. I was very much looking forward to it, but was disappointed.

Was Love Me Not worth the listening time?

I wouldn't go as far as saying that.

Any additional comments?

The scenes in the description of the audiobook never occurred, ever. Also, there were too many implausible moments that occurred because characters just weren't answering their phones. It was getting silly.

4

I was going to suggest this one book in the series could be skipped but I've changed my mind. It covers 3 days of crisis after crisis and I listened to each chapter eagerly to hear what was happening where and to whom. It is a fine suspenseful detective book.

Preposterous!

No spoilers but the detective, who has recently been released from prison after being acquitted for killing 3 people, is now in charge of her former unit that was primarily responsible for her arrest and conviction (must have been a previous book) (no hard feelings, huh?). I know that fiction requires suspension of disbelief, but the only disbelief I have about this detective story is the number of "fives" other readers rated it. Finally, is this Detective Grace any relation to Roy Grace in the Peter James series?

Love me Not

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, loved the narration and the story. Not the ending I expected, but kept you guessing throughout the story.

I really wanted to love this

Unfortunately I found this kind of dull. I would love for the author to go back to his earlier books like Eeny Meeny. The narrator remains top notch but overall, it was just dull. I'll probably get the next title but I hope it's a return to form.

Aldridge hits it out of the park.

This is a great addition to this series. Unlike many series you don't have to have read the previous books


A real nail biter

Really Gripping!

I read most of this in one day. The story was really good and kept me wondering.
No real twists or anything like that just a really exciting crime book.
Glad that Helen Grace is back!!!

excellent as usual

MJ Arlidge has a wonderful way with words and the narrator captures the tone perfectly Helen Grace is a greatly troubled character but one is strangely drawn to her. More please!!!!

SUCH A DISAPOINTMENT - AGAIN!

What could M. J. Arlidge have done to make this a more enjoyable book for you?

I'm sorry to post a negative review but for faithful followers of this series of books this will be such a disappointment. Really just another short story that does not develop the characters at all. Literally just a police exercise to catch a teenager who seems to have an extremely poor excuse for going on a terror rampage.

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

Disappointment and frustration as I so enjoyed the first few books up to the prison debacle.

Any additional comments?

Just hope that the author can be willing to spend some more time developing a more extensive plot and future for her characters in this once excellent series!

Disappointing

I was extremely disappointed with this book, I have been a Helen Grace fan since Eeny Meeny but apparently, Helen has lost all interest in life and this book sums up that lack of zest nicely, it is nothing more than a race against time to catch a teenager who has had a horrible life. (This teenager is pretty smart though, outwitting the Police rather easily).

Now I do believe that new readers (listeners) may well enjoy this story, it is reasonably well narrated although a little dreary overall (that is my own personal taste and others may disagree), but I would be surprised if any Helen Grace fans would actually enjoy this book, it is just NOT Helen Grace, it's a pale, uninteresting and extremely annoying version of her.

I would like to see the real Helen Grace resurrected at some point but it seems that maybe the author has lost interest in her.

Disappointing

I've read all of the Di Helen Grace books and enjoyed them all and looked forward to this one being released
Unfortunately I found the story weak and the idea of the timeline reduced its credibility.
Maybe this was just a blip and the next book will be back on track.

Another gripping book

As most reviewers have mentioned, this book is set in real time so it gives it a real feel.
I disagree with some saying that Helen is moody in this because if you've read the other books then you could forgive her for her darker attitude but because of the fast pace in this book then her darkness doesn't really come through.
Very mixed emotions for the bad guys in this book. M J Aldridge has an amazing way of making you feel sorry and sadness one minute then hate and anger the next. Again, there were moments of gasps, shouting at the speaker, cliff hangers.....Ive now listened to all 7 books in 2 and half months and I'm really really hoping that book 8 is on its way.
Get this book and enjoy the ride.

Disappointing/ Audible description error too

I have read all the previous Helen Grace books, this instalment is a disappointment, silly plot holes and very predictable!

Audible description also not correct, first half is referring to another story not this one!

Disappointed

Bought this book based on the fact I've read the rest of the series from the start, the initial books were dark, suspenseful with well constructed plots. I thought the previous book was a dip in form but this hits new lows. I'm unlikely to buy the next.

Different style

Has the author been watching too much 24 series. Having each chapter, start at a time was strange, especially the last few chapters as that was also different days. Good (ish) listen. Yet from hide and seek you get no in between. As an avid fan, I wanted desperately to know what had happened in that time. Since this is a series, surely they should go hand in hand. I like Helen Grace a lot, so don’t change her from the character, for myself and possibly other fans.

Weaker than the rest of the series

I am a massive fan of this series. I have invested so much in DI Helen Grace. I think this is the 7th and there is novellas as well. She is an excellent character. This book however didn’t excite me as much as the others.

The story for me was extremely weak. Arlidge uses short, sharp and punchy chapters throughout the series. There was no change here, but whereas the other books left me desperate to just have one more chapter hit, this left me just wanting the book to finish.

I am not keen on writing more negative reviews as it must have taken a lot of hard work to write however I need to be honest.

Having said this, I will definitely continue with the series and hope that this was just a blip in my own personal enjoyment.

Do not read this as a one off; but do pick up the series at the start of you haven’t already.