Dead Woman Walking

Title: Dead Woman Walking

Author: Sharon Bolton

Genre: Mystery/Psychological Thriller

Published: 2017

Obtained: Amazon

Thirteen people go up for a hot air balloon ride near the border of Scotland and witness a man commit a murder. Only one of the thirteen individuals comes back down. Unfortunately, the murderer and the female survivor have seen each other’s faces and thus the race for survival begins. Between the detectives on the case and the murderer hunting her, who will find the witness first?

Dead Woman Walking is the third Sharon Bolton novel that I have had the pleasure to read. It did not disappoint! Although this novel bounced around quite a bit between time frames and characters, it was engaging and suspenseful. The characters were well developed and multidimensional. The plot was climactic and full of tension that makes for a great read.

The opening of this book had me tense and on the edge of my sofa. It was a little more gory than the previous books I’ve read of hers, but not overly done. After the initial terror, the action settles and gives way to flashbacks and mounting tension. True to her style, everytime I thought I had the story figured out, Bolton threw one wrench after another into the mix. I can see how the shifting between time frames could be overwhelming to a reader, but I enjoy the way Bolton keeps me on my toes.

Bolton’s character development is by far one of my favorite elements of her writing. The protagonist, the villain, the detective and even the nuns were multidimensional and well-rounded. Bolton has a way of leading the reader to make assumptions about characters and then completely turning the theories upside down. I love this about her novels. She manages to make even the most evil of characters relatable on some level.

I highly recommend Dead Woman Walking to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful thriller with unpredictable twists and turns. I had a hard time putting this one down. This was the second to last book and wine pairing I was able to indulge in before my pregnancy. That being said, I suggest sipping on Chateau Souverain Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s a dark, fruity wine that isn’t overly sweet. But, I suggest sipping slowly, as it has a 13.9% alcohol content and goes down smooth which can make it difficult to muddle through the details, flashbacks and shifts in time. I gave this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars; it was a fabulous read. Do yourself a favor and pick up this book and pour yourself a glass!