“Nikki Griffin is one spectacular heroine…One Got Away is one seriously entertaining read.” –USA Today Private investigator Nikki Griffin is on a case. The reclusive matriarch of one of San Francisco’s wealthiest and most private families has been defrauded by a con-man, and her furious son enlists Nikki to find the money. And find the con-man, Dr. Geoffrey Coombs. Nikki isn’t a fan of men … con-man, Dr. Geoffrey Coombs.
Nikki isn’t a fan of men who hurt people. Quietly running her used bookstore by day, her secret mission, born of revenge and trauma, is to do everything she can to remove the innocent from dangerous situations–and punish the men responsible.
It seemed like a simple job, but as Coombs leads Nikki on a trail littered with deceptions, she realizes that he’s not the only one lying: no one involved is telling her the truth.
As Nikki draws closer to Coombs and learns more about who he really is, she is taken aback to realize that she is starting to enjoy the chase–and that the two of them might share more in common than she would like to admit.
But while she closes in on Coombs, others are looking for him, too. As Nikki glimpses secrets that powerful people want to remain hidden, she begins to suspect that lives are in peril.
From breathtaking cliffside resorts to the shady underworld of stolen cars, from drug-filled trailers to the city’s loftiest penthouses, Nikki slowly uncovers the deep rot at the center of the case. She is forced to make terrible choices about who to help–and how to keep herself alive.
If she can fit the pieces together in time, she just might be able to save them all.
PI Nikki Griffin – a badass bookseller who punishes abusers – is back in S. A. Lelchuk’s One Got Away…
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“One Got Away” is the second in the “Nikki Griffin” series; new readers will immediately be captured by the characters and the action, wondering how they missed the first book. The story is set in central California and reflects the unique geography and culture of the area, but the story is all Nikki from start to finish — the places she goes, the people she finds, and how she feels about everything.
Nikki owns a bookstore along with Bartleby, the bookstore’s normally social resident feline. She rides a motorcycle, so she has no trouble finding parking spots where ever she goes. Her “significant other” Ethan is an adjunct professor on a tenure track at Cal. He wants their relationship to grow and progress; Nikki just wants to make it to tomorrow. She tells herself that she really is not ready for a long-term relationship. In truth, she might be fine without Ethan, but she would not be the same; she needs him more than she knows.
Nikki’s current assignment, a simple request for information, nothing illegal had happened, somehow turns into a very complex, and of course, dangerous situation. She ventures beyond the scope of the original request but is compelled to finish what she started. Readers enthusiastically go along for the wild ride with her.
“One Got Away” is a compelling adventure where everyone has little secrets and everyone is a bit deceitful. The plot is deliberate, focused, and filled with the unexpected right up to the frantic end. I received a review copy of “One Got Away” from S. A. Lelchuk and Flatiron Books. My advice is to plan your reading time carefully, once you start on this journey with Nikki, you will not stop until you reach the last page.
A sophomore effort that shines. I’m definitely buying more Nikki Griffin books in the future. Great suspense, mystery, and fabulous characters.
I was really disappointed by this one…
I absolutely loved the first Nikki book. Save Me from Dangerous Men was brilliant – she was a badass protagonist who stood up for herself and for people who couldn’t stand up for themselves, and every bit of the plotting, characterization, and action grabbed me by the throat and refused to let go until The Bitter End.
I was beyond delighted at the second book being released, and eagerly dove in. But from the opening pages, this did not feel like the Nikki from the first book. She waffles, she relies on men, she follows stereotypical “bad boys”, she makes foolish decisions – she takes on a child sidekick for God’s sake….
It just felt forced and nowhere near as flowing and natural in her characterization OR her vengeance as she did in the first book. The mysteries and conspiracies she uncovers feel like they’ve all been done a thousand times before. This one just did not entertain me the way the first book did.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.
One Got Away was a phenomenal follow up to Save Me from Dangerous Men.
By day, Nikki Griffin runs a small bookstore. By night, Nikki is a P.I. who puts her skills to use tracking down abusive men and showing them just how she feels about them hurting the vulnerable people in their lives. After a con-man pulls one over on the matriarch of one of the wealthiest San Francisco families, Nikki is hired to track the man down and get back their money. But as Nikki tracks the man all over California, she quickly discovers that no one is telling her the whole story. When her own life is threatened, Nikki will have to put all her skills to use if she hopes to make it out of this job alive.
The plot in One Got Away was an interesting one and I enjoyed that the author took things in an unexpected direction. Nikki is hired by Martin Johannessen, the son of the defrauded woman, and he has a very one-track mind of what leads Nikki should follow. But Nikki does things her own way and after she gets in touch with other members of the Johannessen family, she finds out the situation is not at all like the one Martin described. While chasing leads, Nikki goes from San Francisco to Monterey and places in between. She meets various nefarious characters along the way from a charming British con-man to a cartel. There’s also a cute sidekick she picks up in the form of Mason, a young boy Nikki meets in Monterey who turns out to be quite helpful. The ending had a few surprises I wasn’t expecting and I enjoyed the final scene between Nikki and the Johannessen family. Overall a solid story with the perfect mix of action and intrigue.
Nikki continues to be a fascinating main character. She’s smart, capable, and refuses to back down. We didn’t get to see as much of Nikki’s usual P.I. business where she tracks down abusers, although there is a small scene that somewhat fills this void. I enjoyed Nikki’s interactions with Mason, the kid who helps her out in Monterey. Mason’s inclusion was unexpected and I liked the bond Nikki develops with him. The kid was surprising bright and had access to a number of gadgets that ended up helping Nikki out. Throughout the book Nikki also gets help from a few side characters we met in the first book which I enjoyed.
Overall One Got Away was a fantastic read and I would highly recommend it if you’re looking for a great thriller to pick up.
I really enjoyed this second book and can’t wait to read the first one as well as any future books in this series. P.I. Nikki Griffin’s brother Brandon has turned his life around, her bookstore is making money which helps with her investigative work and her relationship with Ethan is good as he allows her the space that she needs. Life is good…until she is hired by a very wealthy family who may have been swindled by a conman. She chases down leads that put her life in danger, but she is used to people underestimating her abilities. She soon realizes that the conman is involved in something more deadly than fleecing an older woman and that the family has not been completely truthful. She gets help from her quirky friends and her “sidekick” Mason, a twelve-year old boy who has been abused by his father (I really enjoyed the interaction between Nikki and Mason and her “handling” of his father). A great action and suspense mystery featuring a woman who never gives up, but does get even. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
One Got Away by S.A. Lelchuk is the second installment in the Nikki Griffin series. Nikki is a streetwise, book store owning P.I. who defends those that can’t defend themselves. In One Got Away, she is after a suspected con man that may be blackmailing the elderly, widowed matriarch of a wealthy San Francisco family. But not all is as it seems. When the con man is kidnapped and the bodies of several young women are found abandoned in a trailer Nikki has more questions than answers and time is running out.
The story is well plotted, keeps the reader guessing and moves along at a fast pace. There is a moody film nior feel to the story and the writing. I can hear Nikki’s smooth narration – sharp and sarcastic – as she peels back the layers and carefully crafts her next step as she moves closer to the true nature of the crime. Nikki is a tenacious, smart, flawed character who doesn’t always land on the legal side of things but lives her life by her own code of justice, S.A. Lelchuk has created a character the is brash, unapologetic and original. I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next Nikki Griffin book.
This amazing book is for fans of Lisbeth Salander and Jack Reacher.
I enjoyed this fast paced and unputdowable read. Once I started my fingers could not turn the pages fast enough. Wow this was a wild ride and I loved it!
Nikki Griffin is an amazing character, and has a great back story and the reason why she is so passionate about protecting women. She is also a bookseller by day and private investigator by night. Who wouldn’t love a badass character with the perfect job I can only dream of.
Sounds amazing right?
In this second book, which I enjoyed reading so much, and can be enjoyed as a stand alone, we are taken along in an action packed adventure to find a con-man who has defrauded one of the wealthiest families in San Francisco.
Nothing is ever what it seems and this book is full of amazing surprises, with the twits and turns thriller lovers enjoy in their read.
I highly recommend this. I am so excited to read the first book in this series.
Thank you Flatiron Books for providing a Netgalley eARC. Opinions are my own.