Critically acclaimed author Saul Black returns with a heart-racing thriller in which a brutal murder forces one woman to reckon with her own past–and her future. On a hot summer night, a watchful neighbor locks eyes with an intruder and unwittingly alerts the police to a vicious crime scene next door: a lavish master bedroom where a man lies dead. Next to him, his wife is bleeding out onto the … bleeding out onto the hardwood floor, clinging to life.
The victim, Adam Grant, was a well-known San Francisco prosecutor–a man whose connection to Homicide detective Valerie Hart brings her face-to-face with a life she’s long since left behind. Adam’s career made him an easy target, and forensic evidence points towards an ex-con he put behind bars years ago. But while Adam’s wife and daughter grapple with their tragic loss, Valerie uncovers devastating clues that point in a more ominous direction. Lurking in the shadows of the Grants’ pristine life is a mysterious blonde who holds the key to a very different–and much darker–story.
As Valerie struggles to forge a new path for herself, the investigation forces her to confront the question: can we ever really leave our pasts behind?
Sophisticated and stunning, Anything for You is an unforgettable thriller that will grip readers long after turning the last page.
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If you are looking for a good thriller book this is the book for you. I’ve had it on my shelf for a little bit and picked it up a couple times only to move onto something else. I am now sorry that I waited so long to read this book. Anything for You is a book that I picked up, read, and am still talking about.
There are many triggers in this book that could make it difficult for readers. There is rape/incest/child abuse. But I felt that all of that lead to the story. The reason for the characters to be the way they are.
While it was harsh at times and difficult to read, I chose to not focus on that part of the story and instead try to figure out who the elusive blonde is. I had guesses and I have to be proud of myself for figuring it out before it was given away in the book. The twists and turns kept me doubting myself but I loved following all the clues.
Anything For You started out very well and was exciting, but unfortunately at some point I just got lost in this book.
The characters were well done and I enjoyed the detectives and the job the did. I think this would be great for people who enjoy mysteries and police procedurals.
Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC at my request. All thoughts are my own.
Anything for You by Saul Black
This book was different, there was quite a bit of sex, murder, and a twist that being said it was an interesting read if you don’t mind the sex and can get around some of the language, which I did and the mystery underneath it was something I didn’t see coming at first but I feel as I should have! Story flows and characters are interesting even if I didn’t like some of them. Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers St. Martin’s Press for this ARC!
Anything for You is a well-written police procedural (at least the part that I read). It’s a gritty, sometimes gruesome novel – particularly because there are chapters from the killer’s point of view. Valerie, a police detective, is working through some personal issues; it’s clear she’s doing better than previously but still struggling. At times Valerie is an extremely unlikable character. She’s unkind and fast to jump to conclusions and stereotypes; the fact she rarely voices these opinions does not make them better or easier to read. Valerie and other characters also frequently use the c word, which I hate.
I ultimately did not finish this novel. The last straw for me was when Valerie showed a nude photograph of a woman she’s looking for to a man she was interested in sexually. She doesn’t need to do this – not only are there other photos available where the woman is fully clothed, even if Valerie had to use this photo she could have cropped it to show only the face. Valerie has access to this picture solely because she’s a cop – it’s inappropriate and abusive to use that access in this way. Are there some cops that do this in real life? Probably. Do I want to see this behavior in a main character I’m supposed to care about/commiserate with/route for? Nope.
Anything for You is the only novel I’ve read in this series and I had no trouble jumping in here, though it is clear that there are significant character arcs that have matured through the series.
Content Warnings: sexual assault; physical/verbal abuse; misogynistic language
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #AnythingForYou #mystery #policeprocedural
A first rate suspense novel.
Anything for You was much better in the abstract than it was in reality. It had the potential to be a gritty thriller, but the writing is too detached to become invested in the story. It didn’t help that I didn’t like a single character in this story. Not one. For the most part, I found the story to be obnoxious, vulgar, and explicit. Now, let me say that I am not easily offended, but I didn’t find any of those things to be necessary for this to be a good story. Honestly, I felt like the shock value they add ended up being detrimental. The thing with being explicit in a story like this is that most people don’t need it. With the right words, an author can give just enough for the reader to imagine the gory details. And I’m here to tell you that I can always imagine it much worse than most can write it. Maybe it’s just me, maybe not, but the only thing I got from reading this one was a few hours that I can’t get back. It’s predictable, unengaging, and well, just not good in my opinion.
Anything For You by author Saul Black is anything but forgettable! The plot of the story is brilliant! This is the third in a series featuring Detective Valerie Hart. Although I have not read the preceding two books, I found this book to be easy to follow as a stand-alone novel. The main character, Valerie Hart is likable and dealing with some personal issues of her own. Imagine Valerie’s discomfort when she reaches the murder scene and recognizes a person she had a one night experience with back during her boozy days of indulgence. Should she excuse herself from the investigation in the hopes the one night will never be uncovered?
The reader needs to be alert to the dates on the chapter headings. This will be helpful in determining how and why the murders happened. It is really multigenerational with one mother being very lax about the safety of her daughter and the other mother fighting like a bear for the well being of her daughter. As the story unfolds you will be asking yourself if the murders were justified. This book was very interesting and I look forward to reading about Valerie Hart again!
I will have to say the style of writing with the addition of so many parentheses bothered me a bit.
Publication Date is November 5, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy.
This is the third book in the Valerie Hart series and can be read as a stand-alone. Saul Black creates a storyline that can easily be followed by new readers and deeply appreciated by veteran fans. The narrative is intense, full of an assemblage of sex, lies, and betrayal. Main character and homicide detective, Valerie Hart, is called to the scene of a gruesome murder but when she arrives she suddenly faced with a past she has tried to forget. The plot is enigmatic, holding the reader’s attention with engaging characters and unpredictable scenes. It is everything this genre deserves. Highly recommended. 5 stars.