Pieces by Julia Dudek

Pieces

Angelique Mc Court feels isolated in her own world and her own life. She has no friends, her parents are too busy to be part of her life and her career choice is one that she is unsure of. Living alone in her new apartment she feels happy that she will no longer have to share it with another medical student. But, her life was about to change forever when she comes home one and finds someone in her apartment. Bernadette was a timid, shy and insecure young girl whose parents sent her to New York to attend Bernard Medical School and become a doctor. Staying with Angelique little does Bernadette know that things were about to change for her and not for the better.

Angelique has a photographic memory. She can read an entire manual, textbook, map of a city and streets and remember then word for word after one reading. She does not have trouble remembering anything and faces and figures and entire medical books are easier recorded in her brain. But, Bernadette has to study and she and Angelique are total opposites and yet become best friends. Therefore making what happens all the more difficult and horrifying for Angelique.

When Winter Break comes Angelique encourages Bernie as she called her to go to a club and celebrate. This would be her last one. Leaving the club, Bernadette is brutally raped and murdered and the assailant leaving her memory totally devoid of the incident knocks out Angelique. But, the worst has yet to come. Into the mix we have Detective Ben Marsden whose job it is to solve the case but she us the only witness, Not thinking if the consequences to herself or anyone else, she ventures out twice into the night to revisit the scene of the crime and both times is followed by an unknown person. In the first incident the man is trying to help her but the second time, she is carrying a knife and while he attacks her the knife in her bag kills him and she shows no remorse at all.

Getting closer to the detective could prove dangerous as she unfolds a plot so diabolical that the reader will have chills run through them and shudder at what she plans to do. Avenging Bernadette’s death is her goal and going after an unknown assailant is her plan. Trying to piece together the memory of that night, Angelique goes in search of men who she feels deserve death. Going out in the middle of the night she tries to recreate in her mind the murder, seeing Bernadette’s face as she does and listening to a voice within her controlling her every thought and move. Revenge is the answer and she will get it at all costs. But, one man might stand in her way. Seeking vengeance and revenge for the murder of the best friend, her life takes a downward fall and her mindset drastically changes. How does this beautiful and bright beauty queen, with a photographic memory seek out the truth and hunt down a bloodthirsty killer, demon and where does she find him? As the anger, ire, rage and danger she encounters fill the pages of this thriller, Angelique creates a dangerous and heartless plan to hunt the killer, who is on the hunt for her. Her goal is to find the missing pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that are hiding deep in the recesses of her memory and hopefully come out in order to solve the murder of her friend. Trying to enter the mind of this deranged killer, she becomes no better than him.

How far will someone go to protect the person that they care about the most? How much farther will Angelique go to avenge the death of her best friend? What happens when she meets Ben’s partner? Will she pay for her sins? The ending has a major twist that you will never see coming? Will she stay in Medical school or will she take a different road? Some of these questions are answered and others will be when Julia Dudek writes the sequel. This is her first novel and I can’t wait to read and review the next one.

Fran Lewis: Reviewer

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