Book Review: Russian Dolls by Cristelle Comby (Giveaway)

This is where it all begins for University College London student Alexandra Neve and her blind middle-aged history professor Ashford Egan.

Neve's world falls apart when she learns her best, Irina Anderson, jumps from the university's rooftop. The Metropolitan Police rule her death a suicide, but Neve's convinced Irina would never take her own life.

Egan can see Neve's distracted since her friend's death and is eager to listen to what she has to say. Neve doesn't understand why, but she's appreciative to have someone to bounce her ides off of. As different as day is from night, when they are drawn into violent world of the Russian mafia, learning to work together becomes crucial to their survival.

In 2014, I read the third book in The Neve & Egan Cases, Danse Macabre. At the time, it didn't feel like I missed much starting partway into the series. The book drew me in right away and this crime-fighting duo were characters I enjoyed getting to know.

Having read Russian Dolls, however, definitely made me appreciate the third book more.

This novel is just as much about how Neve and Egan learn to work together as it is about the case they are determined to solve. It cements the personalities played out in future books and creates the villain they are destined to meet again.

Another thing I like about Russian Dolls is that it leaves important parts of Egan's history unknown. While typically loose ends are a no-no for me, here, I feel they are just one component of what will drive this series forward. I'm definitely eager to read Book 2, Ruby Heart, and Book 4, Blind Chess. 

Russian Dolls is the beginning of a superb series that you must check out.

EXCERPT:

Life, death. Two concepts, two words.

You don’t think about them unless you’re forced to. You take the first for granted and try to forget the second.

You get on with your life, worry about meaningless things and you simply stop thinking about death, even though you see it every day on the telly, in the papers you read.

So long as it’s happening to others, you continue to go on with this comforting lie that says it’s never going to happen to you. The Reaper won’t come anywhere near you — until the day he does.

It could be a car crash, it could be a stroke. Or it could be your best friend jumping from the rooftop of the university you both attend. And suddenly you remember that death is very real and there’s no way of knowing who is going to be called next. You’re forced to face the frailty of life and accept your own mortality.

My best friend recently passed away and I almost died twice myself in the past couple of weeks. My name is Alexandra Neve. I’m a student who used to live in a reassuring bubble. It burst, and now I finally see the world for what it truly is.

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cristelle-Comby/e/B00EAWEODS/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CristelleComby

File Size: 1176 KB
Print Length: 302 pages
Publisher: Cristelle Comby; 1 edition (March 8, 2013)
Publication Date: March 8, 2013
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
Language: English

Cristelle Comby was born and raised in the French-speaking area of Switzerland, in Greater Geneva, where she still resides.

She attributes to her origins her ever-peaceful nature and her undying love for chocolate. She has a passion for art, which also includes an interest in drawing and acting.

She is the author of the Neve & Egan crime novels series. The four books in the series are Russian Dolls, Ruby Heart, Danse Macabre and Blind Chess.

Links :

Website: http://cristelle-comby.com

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Cristelle

I received a free digital copy of this book from the author through Goddess Fish Promotions. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Cristelle Comby will be awarding an autographed copy of the complete 4 book series, to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I read this book for the following challenge: