By Rabbi Rachel Esserman

When contemplating writing this review, I wondered how to define the thriller genre, as opposed to other genres that also feature murders. One definition I found noted that these works fall somewhere between a traditional murder mystery and a horror novel. I certainly get the comparison to mysteries because most thrillers do contain a murder that needs to be solved. The horror aspect could be considered because, even if a murder takes place at the beginning of the book, another murder or something equally horrible will almost certainly occur. However, rather than seeking to scare a reader, a thriller focuses on creating suspense and keeping readers turning pages. That is definitely true for two recent thrillers: “The Last Time We Saw Her” by Jaclyn Goldis (Emily Bestler Books) and “The Dreadfuls” by A. Rae Dunlap (Kensington Books).
Regular readers of this column know that I’ve read and reviewed the last three novels written by Goldis.* Those who enjoyed her previous works will be asking one question: has she done it again (meaning produced an incredibly suspenseful book filled with interesting characters and a great plot)? My simple answer: yes! (I would add a few more exclamation points, but they would just be deleted by my editor because the newspaper’s style only allows one.) I do have one request for those of you planning to put the paper down now to order the book: please come back to read about the second, also excellent, book featured in this review.
Goldis always includes a Jewish element in her works and, in this case, most of her main characters attended a Jewish camp together in the United States. However, 10 years ago, when a chosen few took part in a heritage trip to the Azores, one camper, Sydney, disappeared. All that remained was a great deal of blood, but her body was never found. The police were unable to solve the mystery of what occurred, although many assumed that Olivia, Sydney’s sister, was responsible.
The campers and counselors are once again on the island a decade later because Sydney’s father has restored the local synagogue and is holding a memorial service in his daughter’s honor. One counselor has asked those attending to take part in a documentary about the death, hoping that someone will drop a hint about what really occurred. Of course, since this is a thriller, there are numerous twists and turns, secrets that need to be uncovered and a killer to reveal.
As with her previous novels, Goldis features a variety of narrators and numerous clues, but it’s up to readers to interpret what is actually happening since the author’s very clever clues are often ambiguous. However, it’s not just the plot that will keep readers turning pages (although there is plenty of it: I read the last 100 pages in one sitting because I had to know what happened). I found myself rooting for characters not to be the murderer, even though, yes, some of these people got under my skin. For example, I really, really didn’t want… well, you didn’t really think I’d reveal the name, but I really, really, really not only didn’t want the person to be the murderer, but also not to have anything bad happen to them. (Again, you didn’t think I would use a pronoun that would make it easy to figure out which character that was.)
If you are a fan of Goldis or thrillers, I assume you’ve already decided to read the book. I’m planning on passing my copy to a friend, mostly because I can’t wait to talk to someone about the novel. That way I won’t have to worry about spoiling any of the many surprises.
While I have read all of Goldis’ previous works, I had not read anything by Dunlap. That is going to change because, even before I finished her novel, I’d already ordered a copy of her first work, “The Resurrectionist.” While it sounds strange to say that a book that features Jack the Ripper as a character contains some very funny parts, the work’s combination of humor and thrills made it fun and exciting reading. Admittedly Victorian-era England was not a wonderful place for a girl who prefers reading penny dreadful novels about murder to learning appropriate societal manners. That’s why Adelaide (Dell), the novel’s narrator, is sentenced to Whitechapel Hall Reform School. Well, to be fair, she did steal books, but only after her uncle burned those she owned, including ones left to her by her late mother. At least she makes one friend, Pippa. However, life at the school is boring, until Jack the Ripper starts killing people. Dell believes that, with all the skills she’s learned from reading penny dreadful detectives, she and Pippa will solve the crimes and uncover the murderer.
While Dell and Pippa are not Jewish, they are befriended by Noah, the son of a Jewish butcher, whose parents’ store supplies the reform school with meat. Since the police cannot believe someone British could be the Ripper, they look to the Jewish community for a suspect and, even when one man is cleared, assume someone else Jewish must be responsible. That leads to antisemitic attacks on Jewish stores and homes by Londoners. Even the rabbinic council ponders finding someone to hand over to the police so the rest of the community will be spared.
Dell is a wonderful creation: she’s funny and delusional at the same time. If she had her way, her life would echo the penny dreadfuls she loves and is, at first, disappointed that the reform school is not the Gothic horror she hoped it would be. However, real life offers its own horrors as she, Pippa and Noah search for the murderer. While those hoping for a revelation about the real life Jack the Ripper will be disappointed, lovers of thrillers will not be: the work contains enough twist and turns and excitement to please. The humor is just a great bonus. Dunlap is definitely a writer to watch.
*The Reporter reviews of Goldis’ previous works can be found at www.thereportergroup.org/features/celebrating-jewish-literature-two-mysteries-and-a-thriller-441939; www.thereportergroup.org/book-reviews/off-the-shelf-an-almost-pi-a-manipulative-mystery-writer-and-a-cynical-lawyer; and www.thereportergroup.org/book-reviews/off-the-shelf-a-thriller-and-a-mystery.