The Thirteenth Girl

The Thirteenth Girl, by N V Peacock, is an intriguing read. Dee is an unusual protagonist because she suffers from a psychiatric illness. After a car accident, outside a church, her brain injury changes her behaviour, and she sees ‘‘red” when faced with any danger. Her flight or fight has turned into fight. Her parents, wanting their ‘‘normal’’ child back, resort to having her demons released using a religious ceremony, is filmed. Louisa, the person responsible for the exorcism, has lived off the fame, while the protagonist can never escape from her past. Especially when the podcast is up for an award.

Just discharged from the mental health facility where she has undergone treatment, Dee is found a job. If she relapses, or gets the sack, she has to return to St Aldas. Her weekly sessions with Doctor Taylor are another provision to help with her recovery. To keep her ”red” at bay. Taking her pink pills, she still lives at home, and wants to show she is recovering.

The novel opens after the first murder of a girl in her local town. Sending letters to the police, he taunts them for not finding him. She starts a podcast, where she hopes to save any other women in the serial killer’s path.

The Righteous Wrath.

One man is being accused, but she doesn’t believe he is to blame.

This is another brilliant, dark novel, from this author. The unreliable narrator, and her attempts at living a normal life, brought fresh intrigue. As each clue was revealed, I hoped her revelations were correct. Being part of her investigations felt inspiring.

Brave, tough and suffering from trauma, she was never a victim. I loved this character because she wasn’t perfect and wasn’t afraid to find the killer.

It is a five out of five stars for me.