What do you think?
Rate this book
Harper McClain #2
A Beautiful Corpse
From Christi Daugherty, author of The Echo Killing, comes another pulse-pounding suspenseful thriller featuring crime reporter Harper McClain.
For a woman, being killed by someone who claims to love her is the most ordinary murder of all.
With its antebellum houses and ancient oak trees draped in a veil of Spanish moss, Savannah’s graceful downtown is famous around the world. When a woman is killed in the heart of that affluent district, the shock is felt throughout the city. But for crime reporter Harper McClain, this story is personal. The corpse has a familiar face.
Only twenty-four years old, Naomi Scott was just getting started. A law student, tending bar to make ends meet, she wanted to change the world. Instead, her life ended in the dead of night at the hands of an unseen gunman. There are no witnesses to the crime. The police have three suspects: Scott’s boyfriend, who has a criminal past he claims he’s put behind him, her boss, who stalked another young bartender two years ago, and the district attorney’s son, who Naomi dated until their relationship ended in acrimony. All three men claim to love her. Could one of them be her killer?
With the whole city demanding answers, Harper unravels a tangled story of obsession and jealousy. But the pressures on her go beyond the murder. The newspaper is facing more layoffs. Her boss fears both their jobs are on the line. And Harper begins to realize that someone is watching her every move. Someone familiar and very dangerous.
Someone who told her to run before it’s too late…
For a woman, being killed by someone who claims to love her is the most ordinary murder of all.
With its antebellum houses and ancient oak trees draped in a veil of Spanish moss, Savannah’s graceful downtown is famous around the world. When a woman is killed in the heart of that affluent district, the shock is felt throughout the city. But for crime reporter Harper McClain, this story is personal. The corpse has a familiar face.
Only twenty-four years old, Naomi Scott was just getting started. A law student, tending bar to make ends meet, she wanted to change the world. Instead, her life ended in the dead of night at the hands of an unseen gunman. There are no witnesses to the crime. The police have three suspects: Scott’s boyfriend, who has a criminal past he claims he’s put behind him, her boss, who stalked another young bartender two years ago, and the district attorney’s son, who Naomi dated until their relationship ended in acrimony. All three men claim to love her. Could one of them be her killer?
With the whole city demanding answers, Harper unravels a tangled story of obsession and jealousy. But the pressures on her go beyond the murder. The newspaper is facing more layoffs. Her boss fears both their jobs are on the line. And Harper begins to realize that someone is watching her every move. Someone familiar and very dangerous.
Someone who told her to run before it’s too late…
10 pages, Audiobook
First published March 12, 2019
About the author
Christi Daugherty
6 books406 followersAs a newspaper reporter, Christi Daugherty first began covering murders at the age of 22. She worked as a journalist for years in cities including Savannah, Baton Rouge, and New Orleans. The Echo Killing is her first crime novel. She has also written seven young adult novels under the name CJ Daugherty and writes the spy thriller series Alias Emma as Ava Glass. Find out more and win signed books by visiting her website: www.ChristiDaugherty.com. You can also follow Christi on Twitter (@CJ_Daugherty) and Facebook (CJAuthor).
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews
March 2, 2019
4.5 Stars
This book is book 2 in the Harper McClain series and works very well as a stand-alone novel but do yourself a favor and read The Echo Killing first. It will provide background information on many of the characters in this book plus, it's an awesome read!
Harper McClain in hanging out at the Library Bar with her friend Bonnie, when a call comes in that there has been a shooting nearby in a high tourist area. Harper, a crime reporter, hurries to the scene with Bonnie at her side. At the scene, they learn a young woman has been killed. At first this seems cut and dry until Bonnie realizes that the dead woman is Naomi Scott, a woman she works with at the bar. Naomi is twenty-four years old and a law school student.
There are no witnesses to Naomi's murder but there are several suspects. Who had motive? Who had an alibi? Who had suspicious behavior in his past? As Naomi's father and the city demands answers, Harper is pulled into the investigation and tries to track down a killer while at the same time, dealing with possible break ins at her apartment and the feelings that she has for Luke, a former lover, and now one of the detectives investigating Naomi's murder.
The Author is a former journalist who covers murders and puts her experience and knowledge into her books. By doing so she has created a very believable and realist book that not only details Harper's job as a journalist covering crime, investigative journalism and police procedures while investigating murders.
I read most of this book in one day as I could not put it down. The characters are likable and interesting. I love that Harper is a strong and intelligent character. She doesn't back down and is very inquisitive. She has a traumatic background that you can read about in The Echo Killing. She is a great character to root for as she investigates, tries to work with the police and interacts with her co-workers. I found this book to be captivating and was glued to my seat, fully engrossed in the story. The plot was well thought out, layered and interesting. I really enjoy Daugherty's writing. I find it to be intelligent and the writing transported me to Savannah, Georgia. I felt as if I were right there watching the action as a quiet observer. There are no dull moments or down time in this book. The pacing is spot on which makes for a fast and compelling read.
At the end of this book, it is obvious there is going to be another book in the series. Fingers crossed Daugherty is already hard to work on it. I have many questions and will be highly anticipating the next book.
Thank you to Christi Daugherty, St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book is book 2 in the Harper McClain series and works very well as a stand-alone novel but do yourself a favor and read The Echo Killing first. It will provide background information on many of the characters in this book plus, it's an awesome read!
Harper McClain in hanging out at the Library Bar with her friend Bonnie, when a call comes in that there has been a shooting nearby in a high tourist area. Harper, a crime reporter, hurries to the scene with Bonnie at her side. At the scene, they learn a young woman has been killed. At first this seems cut and dry until Bonnie realizes that the dead woman is Naomi Scott, a woman she works with at the bar. Naomi is twenty-four years old and a law school student.
There are no witnesses to Naomi's murder but there are several suspects. Who had motive? Who had an alibi? Who had suspicious behavior in his past? As Naomi's father and the city demands answers, Harper is pulled into the investigation and tries to track down a killer while at the same time, dealing with possible break ins at her apartment and the feelings that she has for Luke, a former lover, and now one of the detectives investigating Naomi's murder.
The Author is a former journalist who covers murders and puts her experience and knowledge into her books. By doing so she has created a very believable and realist book that not only details Harper's job as a journalist covering crime, investigative journalism and police procedures while investigating murders.
I read most of this book in one day as I could not put it down. The characters are likable and interesting. I love that Harper is a strong and intelligent character. She doesn't back down and is very inquisitive. She has a traumatic background that you can read about in The Echo Killing. She is a great character to root for as she investigates, tries to work with the police and interacts with her co-workers. I found this book to be captivating and was glued to my seat, fully engrossed in the story. The plot was well thought out, layered and interesting. I really enjoy Daugherty's writing. I find it to be intelligent and the writing transported me to Savannah, Georgia. I felt as if I were right there watching the action as a quiet observer. There are no dull moments or down time in this book. The pacing is spot on which makes for a fast and compelling read.
At the end of this book, it is obvious there is going to be another book in the series. Fingers crossed Daugherty is already hard to work on it. I have many questions and will be highly anticipating the next book.
Thank you to Christi Daugherty, St. Martin's Press Minotaur Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
February 24, 2019
This is the 2nd in the crime reporter, Harper McClain series set in the small town of Savannah, Georgia. This worked fine as a standalone but I should warn there are major spoilers here about events that occurred in the first book. A 24 year old woman, Naomi Scott, is shot twice in the tourist district of town. Harper and her best friend, Bonnie, arrive on the scene only to discover to their horror that they knew the victim, and had seen her earlier in the night. Naomi had worked part time as a bartender with Bonnie at The Library Bar. She was beautiful, ambitious and compassionate, a promising law student, with a boyfriend, Wilson Shepherd. The prime suspect for the police is Wilson, after all, most women are murdered by someone close, who claim to love them, the most ordinary murder of all. This is a big story and Harper investigates, only this turns out to be a thorny and complex dangerous investigation.
Harper carries the scars and nightmares of previous events that ended in her being shot, and led to her being considered a pariah by Savannah PD, as she nailed a highly respected killer from their own ranks. The police are an unforgiving bunch as they refuse to share information and harrass her, preventing her from doing her job. Harper is forced to deal with this issue head on, but she has other problems, further job cuts at Savannah News threatens her job, and someone is breaking into her apartment on an ongoing basis. Then there is the murder of Harper's mother when she was a child, and Harper is desperate to find her murderer, and she is willing to do whatever it takes. Harper's personal relationship with Detective Luke Walker was a casualty of previous events, but he now enters her life again, will it all end in tears again? Wilson Shepherd turns out to be not the only suspect in Naomi's killing, there is the son of the DA, and looking into him carries the inherent dangers of taking on the most powerful of forces in town. Then there is the owner of The Library Bar, Fitz, spending most of his town inebriated. Will Harper be able to find the killer whilst the police struggle?
Christi Daugherty writes highly entertaining crime fiction and her protagonist, Harper, proves to be feisty and determined character, vulnerable with a traumatic history, which really makes you root for her. She has a solid cast of characters and friends that are there for her and help in getting to the truth of what happened to Naomi. Her workplace has its own dramas, with her boss, Emma Baxter, doing her best to shield Harper from the intrigues within the higher echelons of management. This is wonderfully engaging crime fiction that never failed to hold my interest, and I am certainly planning to read the next in the series. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
Harper carries the scars and nightmares of previous events that ended in her being shot, and led to her being considered a pariah by Savannah PD, as she nailed a highly respected killer from their own ranks. The police are an unforgiving bunch as they refuse to share information and harrass her, preventing her from doing her job. Harper is forced to deal with this issue head on, but she has other problems, further job cuts at Savannah News threatens her job, and someone is breaking into her apartment on an ongoing basis. Then there is the murder of Harper's mother when she was a child, and Harper is desperate to find her murderer, and she is willing to do whatever it takes. Harper's personal relationship with Detective Luke Walker was a casualty of previous events, but he now enters her life again, will it all end in tears again? Wilson Shepherd turns out to be not the only suspect in Naomi's killing, there is the son of the DA, and looking into him carries the inherent dangers of taking on the most powerful of forces in town. Then there is the owner of The Library Bar, Fitz, spending most of his town inebriated. Will Harper be able to find the killer whilst the police struggle?
Christi Daugherty writes highly entertaining crime fiction and her protagonist, Harper, proves to be feisty and determined character, vulnerable with a traumatic history, which really makes you root for her. She has a solid cast of characters and friends that are there for her and help in getting to the truth of what happened to Naomi. Her workplace has its own dramas, with her boss, Emma Baxter, doing her best to shield Harper from the intrigues within the higher echelons of management. This is wonderfully engaging crime fiction that never failed to hold my interest, and I am certainly planning to read the next in the series. Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
April 22, 2019
A solid 4 stars.
This is book 2 in the series, but there was enough information about the events in book 1 that it worked fine for me. Harper McClain is the crime reporter for the Savannah Daily News. She goes to the scene of a murder with her friend Bonnie, a bartender at the Library Bar. The murdered woman is the other afternoon shift bartender, Naomi Scott. Harper wants to solve the case, because she feels the police are pursuing the wrong man. She identifies another suspect, Peyton Anderson, son of the local District Attorney. The police tell her that Peyton has a rock solid alibi, but won't reveal the details. How she solves the murder of Naomi makes for an exciting mystery/thriller
One quote:
Heat--"When she stepped out of the newspaper office, the sun was fierce. Humidity hung so thick it left a white haze in the air, giving the gold dome of the City an oddly electric shimmer in the distance.
August was always brutal, but this year it seemed even worse than usual. It had been over 100 degrees for two weeks."
Thanks to Harper Collins UK for sending me this eARC through NetGalley
This is book 2 in the series, but there was enough information about the events in book 1 that it worked fine for me. Harper McClain is the crime reporter for the Savannah Daily News. She goes to the scene of a murder with her friend Bonnie, a bartender at the Library Bar. The murdered woman is the other afternoon shift bartender, Naomi Scott. Harper wants to solve the case, because she feels the police are pursuing the wrong man. She identifies another suspect, Peyton Anderson, son of the local District Attorney. The police tell her that Peyton has a rock solid alibi, but won't reveal the details. How she solves the murder of Naomi makes for an exciting mystery/thriller
One quote:
Heat--"When she stepped out of the newspaper office, the sun was fierce. Humidity hung so thick it left a white haze in the air, giving the gold dome of the City an oddly electric shimmer in the distance.
August was always brutal, but this year it seemed even worse than usual. It had been over 100 degrees for two weeks."
Thanks to Harper Collins UK for sending me this eARC through NetGalley
September 22, 2020
**3.5-stars rounded up**
One night as Harper McClain is having a few drinks and visiting with her best friend, Bonnie, a bartender at The Library Bar, she receives a call that there has been a shooting.
As an Investigative Reporter on Savannah's crime beat, Harper knows she needs to get to that scene fast.
She's had a couple of drinks by this point, however, so Bonnie insists on driving. It's closing time anyway and she promises not to get in Harper's way.
Once at the scene, Bonnie is shocked when she realizes the murdered girl is her colleague, 24-year old, Naomi Scott, a waitress at The Library Bar.
In fact, Naomi had been working that very night, having just left the bar at the conclusion of her shift around an hour before.
Reflecting back on it, they realize, Naomi had seemed a bit frazzled before she left, right after having a brief conversation on her cell phone. Who had she been talking to and what had upset her?
The police immediately suspect the perpetrator to be Naomi's boyfriend, Wilson Shepherd, but both Bonnie and Harper, who know the young man, don't like him for the crime.
Harper, not buying into the guilt of Shepherd, follows her own leads that send her down some dark roads, against some very powerful people.
In her signature style, Harper doesn't give up. Even when she is faced with great danger. She is determined to get to the bottom of this case and see justice for Naomi and her family.
This is the second installment to the Harper McClain mystery series. While I wasn't as engaged with this story as I was with the first book, this was still a really enjoyable read.
One of the aspects I enjoyed so much about the first book was learning about Harper's past and the trauma that shaped the course of her life. There wasn't as much of her backstory in this one and I kind of missed that.
I love Harper as a character. I feel like her job as a crime reporter is a great way to frame a mystery. I like her interactions with the local police and how that dynamic plays out.
Additionally, this one had a really intriguing ending that set it up perfectly for the third book.
I believe in the next book, we are going to be learning a lot more about Harper's mother and I'm so ready!
Overall, this is a great mystery series with a strong female protagonist who needs no one to save her. It's the perfect time to jump in on the series as well as, the third book released Tuesday, March 10th!!!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am looking forward to continuing on Harper's journey!
One night as Harper McClain is having a few drinks and visiting with her best friend, Bonnie, a bartender at The Library Bar, she receives a call that there has been a shooting.
As an Investigative Reporter on Savannah's crime beat, Harper knows she needs to get to that scene fast.
She's had a couple of drinks by this point, however, so Bonnie insists on driving. It's closing time anyway and she promises not to get in Harper's way.
Once at the scene, Bonnie is shocked when she realizes the murdered girl is her colleague, 24-year old, Naomi Scott, a waitress at The Library Bar.
In fact, Naomi had been working that very night, having just left the bar at the conclusion of her shift around an hour before.
Reflecting back on it, they realize, Naomi had seemed a bit frazzled before she left, right after having a brief conversation on her cell phone. Who had she been talking to and what had upset her?
The police immediately suspect the perpetrator to be Naomi's boyfriend, Wilson Shepherd, but both Bonnie and Harper, who know the young man, don't like him for the crime.
Harper, not buying into the guilt of Shepherd, follows her own leads that send her down some dark roads, against some very powerful people.
In her signature style, Harper doesn't give up. Even when she is faced with great danger. She is determined to get to the bottom of this case and see justice for Naomi and her family.
This is the second installment to the Harper McClain mystery series. While I wasn't as engaged with this story as I was with the first book, this was still a really enjoyable read.
One of the aspects I enjoyed so much about the first book was learning about Harper's past and the trauma that shaped the course of her life. There wasn't as much of her backstory in this one and I kind of missed that.
I love Harper as a character. I feel like her job as a crime reporter is a great way to frame a mystery. I like her interactions with the local police and how that dynamic plays out.
Additionally, this one had a really intriguing ending that set it up perfectly for the third book.
I believe in the next book, we are going to be learning a lot more about Harper's mother and I'm so ready!
Overall, this is a great mystery series with a strong female protagonist who needs no one to save her. It's the perfect time to jump in on the series as well as, the third book released Tuesday, March 10th!!!
Thank you so much to the publisher, Minotaur Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I am looking forward to continuing on Harper's journey!
March 11, 2019
Book Two in the Harper McClain series, but could be read as a stand-alone. Harper is a crime reporter for a newspaper in Savannah, Georgia and has a background with the Savannah police department. Something major happens in book one and many in the PD are keeping their distance from Harper and refuse to share information with her.
In this installment, there is a new murder mystery and Harper is determined to find justice for the victim even without much help from the police. The case is intriguing and I was trying to figure out who the killer was alongside Harper. I really enjoyed her strong, and courageous character. Her past is woven throughout the story and brings some tension as things from her past still haunt her and are unresolved.
A steady paced police procedural with a strong female lead that is easy to root for as she brings justice to crime victims. Her character is what really makes this series and I look forward to the next.
Thanks to Minotaur for my review copy!
In this installment, there is a new murder mystery and Harper is determined to find justice for the victim even without much help from the police. The case is intriguing and I was trying to figure out who the killer was alongside Harper. I really enjoyed her strong, and courageous character. Her past is woven throughout the story and brings some tension as things from her past still haunt her and are unresolved.
A steady paced police procedural with a strong female lead that is easy to root for as she brings justice to crime victims. Her character is what really makes this series and I look forward to the next.
Thanks to Minotaur for my review copy!
March 9, 2019
STOP THE PRESSES HARPER IS BACK!
This is the second book in the Harper McClain reporter procedural series. The First book in this series “The Echo Killing” was fantastic, so this was a much anticipated book for me. Christi Daugherty has definitely not disappointed, this was another exceptional read.Still not sure if reporter procedural is a thing, but it certainly should be because this is One heck of a series! Fabulous characters, an interesting setting, and a cleverly crafted mystery.
Harper is fabulous, fierce, and feisty! She is super strong with a vulnerable side. Harper has had some trauma in her past, but she does not wear it like a suit of armor, she is open and warm and has wonderful people in her life. The setting of Savanna is magical and beautifully described! I could see the beautiful historical homes, smell the pralines, and feel the humidity! The mystery was clever and multi layered, but what I enjoyed most about this was the investigation itself. I just love how Harper those about trying to figure things out, she is smart, courageous, and crafty. The romance wasn’t quite as prevalent in this book as the previous, but I am holding out hope that a certain somebody will redeem themselves in the next book. This book ends on a cliffhanger that absolutely left me wanting more and wanting it now! well played Miss Daugherty!
The book starts off with Harper and her friend Bonnie hanging out when Harper gets a call about a dead body. When she reaches the crime scene the dead woman looks familiar and soon she figures out it is Naomi, one of Bonnie’s coworkers. Once again Harper finds her self reporting on a crime with a personal tie. The murder is confounding why would anyone want to kill sweet, kind, beautiful Naomi? The investigation leads Harper in a direction she doesn’t necessarily want to go. A suspect with a powerful family and Harper is already persona non grata to the Savanna PD. Throw in the fact that Harper’s job is in danger because of cuts at the newspaper. Top all of this off with the fact that somebody is stalking Harper. The ending was satisfying but still left plenty of questions yet to be answered.
This is a fantastic crime thriller with a wide appeal, I absolutely recommend!
🎵🎵🎵 Song Running Through My Head
You are an obsession
I cannot sleep
I am your possession
Unopened at your feet
There's no balance
No equality
Be still I will not accept defeat
I will have you
Yes, I will have you
I will find a way and I will have you
Like a butterfly
A wild butterfly
I will collect you and capture you
You are an obsession
You're my obsession
Who do you want me to be
To make you sleep with me
You are an obsession
You're my obsession
Who do you want me to be
To make you sleep with me
I feed you I drink you
My day and my night
I need you I need you
By sun or candlelight
You protest
You want to leave
Stay
Oh, there's no alternative
Your face appears again
I see the beauty there...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2v91hZI...
*** Big thanks to Minotaur for my copy of this book ***
This is the second book in the Harper McClain reporter procedural series. The First book in this series “The Echo Killing” was fantastic, so this was a much anticipated book for me. Christi Daugherty has definitely not disappointed, this was another exceptional read.Still not sure if reporter procedural is a thing, but it certainly should be because this is One heck of a series! Fabulous characters, an interesting setting, and a cleverly crafted mystery.
Harper is fabulous, fierce, and feisty! She is super strong with a vulnerable side. Harper has had some trauma in her past, but she does not wear it like a suit of armor, she is open and warm and has wonderful people in her life. The setting of Savanna is magical and beautifully described! I could see the beautiful historical homes, smell the pralines, and feel the humidity! The mystery was clever and multi layered, but what I enjoyed most about this was the investigation itself. I just love how Harper those about trying to figure things out, she is smart, courageous, and crafty. The romance wasn’t quite as prevalent in this book as the previous, but I am holding out hope that a certain somebody will redeem themselves in the next book. This book ends on a cliffhanger that absolutely left me wanting more and wanting it now! well played Miss Daugherty!
The book starts off with Harper and her friend Bonnie hanging out when Harper gets a call about a dead body. When she reaches the crime scene the dead woman looks familiar and soon she figures out it is Naomi, one of Bonnie’s coworkers. Once again Harper finds her self reporting on a crime with a personal tie. The murder is confounding why would anyone want to kill sweet, kind, beautiful Naomi? The investigation leads Harper in a direction she doesn’t necessarily want to go. A suspect with a powerful family and Harper is already persona non grata to the Savanna PD. Throw in the fact that Harper’s job is in danger because of cuts at the newspaper. Top all of this off with the fact that somebody is stalking Harper. The ending was satisfying but still left plenty of questions yet to be answered.
This is a fantastic crime thriller with a wide appeal, I absolutely recommend!
🎵🎵🎵 Song Running Through My Head
You are an obsession
I cannot sleep
I am your possession
Unopened at your feet
There's no balance
No equality
Be still I will not accept defeat
I will have you
Yes, I will have you
I will find a way and I will have you
Like a butterfly
A wild butterfly
I will collect you and capture you
You are an obsession
You're my obsession
Who do you want me to be
To make you sleep with me
You are an obsession
You're my obsession
Who do you want me to be
To make you sleep with me
I feed you I drink you
My day and my night
I need you I need you
By sun or candlelight
You protest
You want to leave
Stay
Oh, there's no alternative
Your face appears again
I see the beauty there...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2v91hZI...
*** Big thanks to Minotaur for my copy of this book ***
March 9, 2019
There’s a reason The Echo Killing was a fan favorite book, and A Beautiful Corpse is its much-anticipated follow-up. Woo hoo! There are actually quite a few reasons!
Everyone’s favorite crime reporter, Harper McClain, is back. Savannah is the setting with its Spanish moss, gobs of southern history and secrets, and sweet tea hospitality on the front steps of antebellum houses. Murders don’t happen downtown, though. Until this one.
Naomi Scott is the victim, just 24 years old. She has her life ahead of her, attending law school, working as a bartender. Of course there were no witnesses to the shooting, but there are three potential suspects. Naomi’s boyfriend, her boss, and the DA’s son, who happens to be an ex-boyfriend of Naomi’s.
The city of Savannah is up in arms with this murder. They want answers and justice. Harper is hot on the trail of someone. She’s putting together a story of obsession and betrayal. But at the same time, two things are interfering: she’s being followed and her job is on the line due to budget cuts. Will either of these things put a stop to Harper’s hard work?
A Beautiful Corpse is a fast-paced, page-turning thriller. Tons of mystery and intrigue fill the plot keeping you guessing and analyzing. Harper becomes fleshed out in three-dimension here. She’s completely human, relatable, and endearing, as we learn more about her past and cheer on her impassioned work to find Naomi’s killer.
Overall, Harper McClain is a champion of a main character, and wherever Christi Daugherty takes this character and series, I will follow.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
Everyone’s favorite crime reporter, Harper McClain, is back. Savannah is the setting with its Spanish moss, gobs of southern history and secrets, and sweet tea hospitality on the front steps of antebellum houses. Murders don’t happen downtown, though. Until this one.
Naomi Scott is the victim, just 24 years old. She has her life ahead of her, attending law school, working as a bartender. Of course there were no witnesses to the shooting, but there are three potential suspects. Naomi’s boyfriend, her boss, and the DA’s son, who happens to be an ex-boyfriend of Naomi’s.
The city of Savannah is up in arms with this murder. They want answers and justice. Harper is hot on the trail of someone. She’s putting together a story of obsession and betrayal. But at the same time, two things are interfering: she’s being followed and her job is on the line due to budget cuts. Will either of these things put a stop to Harper’s hard work?
A Beautiful Corpse is a fast-paced, page-turning thriller. Tons of mystery and intrigue fill the plot keeping you guessing and analyzing. Harper becomes fleshed out in three-dimension here. She’s completely human, relatable, and endearing, as we learn more about her past and cheer on her impassioned work to find Naomi’s killer.
Overall, Harper McClain is a champion of a main character, and wherever Christi Daugherty takes this character and series, I will follow.
I received a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
My reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com
March 11, 2019
This book was so compulsively readable and addictive! I found myself thinking about the mystery of A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty whenever I wasn’t reading it. As journalist Harper McClain pursues a killer, the police throw up road blocks, and Harper finds herself the focus of a different sort of crime that is no less terrifying. This should be a top pick for mystery fans in 2019!
About the Book
This is the second book in a series featuring crime reporter Harper McClain, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone (though it does spoil a few things from book 1, so if you care about that, read them in order or at least be forewarned). Harper is a journalist in Savannah, GA, and the current book shows her on the outs with the police department due to the case from the previous book.
Harper is hanging out with her best friend Bonnie at The Library, a bar that Bonnie works at, when a call comes in about a murder. To their horror, they know the victim—Naomi Scott, a law student who works part time at The Library and was seen leaving the bar less than an hour before she was shot.
Though we don’t really see Naomi alive much in this book, there’s something about her that really shines through the story. Naomi is by all accounts, beautiful, compassionate, intelligent, kind, and hard-working. She’s a perfect example of a victim of a seemingly senseless crime, except that there was definitely something off when she left the bar. She was texting and then left early, and now no one can find her phone.
The suspect list narrows quickly to a few individuals, but it isn’t totally clear who is responsible. The current boyfriend with no alibi? The ex-boyfriend with motive but an airtight alibi? The owner of the bar who has an apparent drinking problem? The police have their number one suspect, but Harper has other ideas. In a highly charged political case, Harper and her boss put themselves out there to reveal the truth. But someone won’t let that happen!
Reflection
I absolutely loved Harper. She’s that perfect mix of incredibly strong but authentically vulnerable. Harper can shatter but pull herself together, but she feels everything. She is dogged, damaged, and passionate. She’s someone everyone will root for because she goes after what is right, even when it may not be what is best for her.
There’s another ongoing plotline about Harper’s personal life, with an ex-boyfriend (which honestly that had me right in my feels!) and with a potential stalker. The stalker plot was absolutely chilling. Harper starts reviewing all of the times she thought something wasn’t right but she brushed her instincts aside, and honestly I had goosebumps! And then story between her and Luke, well that was really something. It felt so authentic and emotional and raw. Very well-written!
I am confident this won’t be the last we see of Harper, and as the book ends we get a small hint of where the story may go next. I will be signed up to read it the moment the draft is done! Truly excellent work by Christi Daugherty!
I received a copy from Minotaur. Opinions are my own.
About the Book
This is the second book in a series featuring crime reporter Harper McClain, but it can absolutely be read as a standalone (though it does spoil a few things from book 1, so if you care about that, read them in order or at least be forewarned). Harper is a journalist in Savannah, GA, and the current book shows her on the outs with the police department due to the case from the previous book.
Harper is hanging out with her best friend Bonnie at The Library, a bar that Bonnie works at, when a call comes in about a murder. To their horror, they know the victim—Naomi Scott, a law student who works part time at The Library and was seen leaving the bar less than an hour before she was shot.
Though we don’t really see Naomi alive much in this book, there’s something about her that really shines through the story. Naomi is by all accounts, beautiful, compassionate, intelligent, kind, and hard-working. She’s a perfect example of a victim of a seemingly senseless crime, except that there was definitely something off when she left the bar. She was texting and then left early, and now no one can find her phone.
The suspect list narrows quickly to a few individuals, but it isn’t totally clear who is responsible. The current boyfriend with no alibi? The ex-boyfriend with motive but an airtight alibi? The owner of the bar who has an apparent drinking problem? The police have their number one suspect, but Harper has other ideas. In a highly charged political case, Harper and her boss put themselves out there to reveal the truth. But someone won’t let that happen!
Reflection
I absolutely loved Harper. She’s that perfect mix of incredibly strong but authentically vulnerable. Harper can shatter but pull herself together, but she feels everything. She is dogged, damaged, and passionate. She’s someone everyone will root for because she goes after what is right, even when it may not be what is best for her.
There’s another ongoing plotline about Harper’s personal life, with an ex-boyfriend (which honestly that had me right in my feels!) and with a potential stalker. The stalker plot was absolutely chilling. Harper starts reviewing all of the times she thought something wasn’t right but she brushed her instincts aside, and honestly I had goosebumps! And then story between her and Luke, well that was really something. It felt so authentic and emotional and raw. Very well-written!
I am confident this won’t be the last we see of Harper, and as the book ends we get a small hint of where the story may go next. I will be signed up to read it the moment the draft is done! Truly excellent work by Christi Daugherty!
I received a copy from Minotaur. Opinions are my own.
March 3, 2019
Harper McClain #2
Harper McClain is a crime reporter. A woman is killed in the affluent district, Savannah. But this story is personal. The corpse is familiar. Naomi Scott was only twenty four years old, a law student who was working in a bar to make ends meet. She had been gunned down, no one had witnessed the shooting. There are three suspects: her boyfriend, who has a criminal past, her boss, who had stalked another bartender two years ago, and the district attorney's son, who Naomi had dated until their relationship ended in acrimony. All three men had claimed to have loved her. The pressure is on Harper to go beyond the murder. With more layoffs at the newspaper, her boss fears both their jobs are on the line. Someone familiar and dangerous is watching Harper's every move.
Harper is still getting a frosty reception from Savannah's police department after trying to solve her mother's murder. Savannah is filled with influential families and lots of tourists. The characters in this novel are believable and I did like Harper for several reasons: she's tough, determined and let's nothing get in her way whilst investigating. I did not realise that this was the second book in the Harper McCain series when I requested this book. Although it can be read as a standalone, I really do think you need to read the first book to get some of the backstory. A throughly good police procedural.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Christi Daugherty for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Harper McClain is a crime reporter. A woman is killed in the affluent district, Savannah. But this story is personal. The corpse is familiar. Naomi Scott was only twenty four years old, a law student who was working in a bar to make ends meet. She had been gunned down, no one had witnessed the shooting. There are three suspects: her boyfriend, who has a criminal past, her boss, who had stalked another bartender two years ago, and the district attorney's son, who Naomi had dated until their relationship ended in acrimony. All three men had claimed to have loved her. The pressure is on Harper to go beyond the murder. With more layoffs at the newspaper, her boss fears both their jobs are on the line. Someone familiar and dangerous is watching Harper's every move.
Harper is still getting a frosty reception from Savannah's police department after trying to solve her mother's murder. Savannah is filled with influential families and lots of tourists. The characters in this novel are believable and I did like Harper for several reasons: she's tough, determined and let's nothing get in her way whilst investigating. I did not realise that this was the second book in the Harper McCain series when I requested this book. Although it can be read as a standalone, I really do think you need to read the first book to get some of the backstory. A throughly good police procedural.
I would like to thank NetGalley, HarperCollins UK, HarperFiction and the author Christi Daugherty for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 9, 2019
Wow, what a fantastic book. I only just read the Echo Killing which is the first book in this series earlier this week and I wish I had gotten into this series sooner. A Beautiful Corpse I felt was even better. I started this on Saturday night and couldn't wait to finish it this morning. And now that I have finished it I am already desperate for book 3! The way this book ended left it wide open with questions... questions that I am dying to learn the answers to.
It is a year since the events of The Echo Killing and Harper McClain is back doing what she does best at the newspaper. As the crime writer she is kept busy in this Savannah town, but after her actions she is on the outer with the local police. One night she is drinking and playing pool with her best friend Bonnie when a call comes in of a shooting in the tourist district. The 2 head over to the crime scene but soon realise that the victim is Bonnies co-worker Naomi Scott. Naomi's boyfriend is immediately under suspicion and arrested. Harper gets into the investigation and learns that there is another suspect, who has strong connections in town. The harder she looks the more danger she is in.
I love the character of Harper. She had a rough start to life - that you learn all about in The Echo Killing. Events in that book also devastated her. Her love life is also a mess but she gets on everyday, without a lot of sleep. She is stubborn and refuses to back down, even when her life is being threatened. But she is loyal to those that she loves, she would do anything to protect them. I look forward to learning more about her as the series continues.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
It is a year since the events of The Echo Killing and Harper McClain is back doing what she does best at the newspaper. As the crime writer she is kept busy in this Savannah town, but after her actions she is on the outer with the local police. One night she is drinking and playing pool with her best friend Bonnie when a call comes in of a shooting in the tourist district. The 2 head over to the crime scene but soon realise that the victim is Bonnies co-worker Naomi Scott. Naomi's boyfriend is immediately under suspicion and arrested. Harper gets into the investigation and learns that there is another suspect, who has strong connections in town. The harder she looks the more danger she is in.
I love the character of Harper. She had a rough start to life - that you learn all about in The Echo Killing. Events in that book also devastated her. Her love life is also a mess but she gets on everyday, without a lot of sleep. She is stubborn and refuses to back down, even when her life is being threatened. But she is loyal to those that she loves, she would do anything to protect them. I look forward to learning more about her as the series continues.
Thanks to Harper Collins UK and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
February 27, 2019
I'm loving this series! I searched for a second book in this series for a few months before I spotted this. Unfortunately I couldn't remember the name of the first book or the name of the author. I will make sure I remember Christi Daugherty now and the protagonist Harper McClain! I'm already looking forward to the next book.
Harper McClain is a crime reporter for a struggling newspaper in Savannah, Georgia. She's had some issues with the local police department (leftover from the first book in the series) so she's having a little trouble getting tips and information for her articles. A young woman is murdered and Harper, seeing the police are getting nowhere, starts investigating on her own. Also, someone has been breaking into Harper's apartment and she needs to find out who.
As a murder mystery this is pretty standard fare, but Harper McClain is such a sassy, spirited character it makes the book fun! Daugherty's writing style flows easily and suits this type of story well. The characters are definitely interesting. Besides Harper we have the mysterious and very sexy Luke, and Harper's best friend Bonnie, the bartender. There is a cliffhanger leaving the door wide open for book three ( I can't wait!).
Thanks to Christi Daugherty and Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Harper McClain is a crime reporter for a struggling newspaper in Savannah, Georgia. She's had some issues with the local police department (leftover from the first book in the series) so she's having a little trouble getting tips and information for her articles. A young woman is murdered and Harper, seeing the police are getting nowhere, starts investigating on her own. Also, someone has been breaking into Harper's apartment and she needs to find out who.
As a murder mystery this is pretty standard fare, but Harper McClain is such a sassy, spirited character it makes the book fun! Daugherty's writing style flows easily and suits this type of story well. The characters are definitely interesting. Besides Harper we have the mysterious and very sexy Luke, and Harper's best friend Bonnie, the bartender. There is a cliffhanger leaving the door wide open for book three ( I can't wait!).
Thanks to Christi Daugherty and Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press through Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
After the fallout from the first book, Harper McClain has spent the last year rebuilding her life, and focusing on her crime reporting career. But a murder closer to home will drag her back into the limelight and test every ounce of grit and gumption that she's got.
This book was great! Harper was just as interesting a main character as in the first book, but having gotten to know her in the first book left this one with plenty of room to develop her more deeply, rather than having to introduce her and set everything up. She's kickass and brave and determined to find the truth, and I adore her character, even when she's making big mistakes!
Daugherty's writing is spot on as well. The story didn't feel too extraneous, and the only times it felt drawn out were the times it was *supposed* to feel that way - when Harper is struggling for leads and desperate to weed out the truth. It really helped me lose myself into her world and her life.
The twists in this one aren't as big as in the first one, but the story is solid, and the path to get there is zig-zaggy enough to keep the readers on their toes.
Plus, the ending - more about the mystery of Harper's mother's murder (when Harper was a child) - really left me excited about the prospect of more. Definitely think it's going to be an agonizing wait... *sighs*
Highly recommended to lovers of mystery/thrillers... but read book one first. :)
After the fallout from the first book, Harper McClain has spent the last year rebuilding her life, and focusing on her crime reporting career. But a murder closer to home will drag her back into the limelight and test every ounce of grit and gumption that she's got.
This book was great! Harper was just as interesting a main character as in the first book, but having gotten to know her in the first book left this one with plenty of room to develop her more deeply, rather than having to introduce her and set everything up. She's kickass and brave and determined to find the truth, and I adore her character, even when she's making big mistakes!
Daugherty's writing is spot on as well. The story didn't feel too extraneous, and the only times it felt drawn out were the times it was *supposed* to feel that way - when Harper is struggling for leads and desperate to weed out the truth. It really helped me lose myself into her world and her life.
The twists in this one aren't as big as in the first one, but the story is solid, and the path to get there is zig-zaggy enough to keep the readers on their toes.
Plus, the ending - more about the mystery of Harper's mother's murder (when Harper was a child) - really left me excited about the prospect of more. Definitely think it's going to be an agonizing wait... *sighs*
Highly recommended to lovers of mystery/thrillers... but read book one first. :)
March 7, 2019
A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daughtery is the second book in the Harper McClain series.
Harper McClain is a crime reporter. A woman's body is found and Harper is called to the scene to investigate the body. Harper recognizes the woman's body and she is familiar to her. Who is she? Naomi Scott is a twenty four year old law student who was working in a bar to help make ends meet. She was shot and there are no witnesses to the crime.
There are three suspects of men that could have potentially committed the crime. Harper is trying to figure out which one of these men could have hurt Naomi and why. And to make the crime more interesting... someone is watching Harper's every move... talk about scary!!!
This was my first read by this author and didn't have a chance to read the first in the series. I would say this is a fine standalone but.. the story and plot from the first book was revealed at the beginning of the second book.
I enjoyed Harper's character and think she's a pretty strong and tough independent woman. My only issue was that the killer in my opinion ended up being a tad bit obvious for me and was hoping that the author would have delivered a nice twist.
Overall, this was a good police procedural novel!
4 stars for A Beautiful Corpse.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 3/12/19
Published to Goodreads: 3/6/19
Harper McClain is a crime reporter. A woman's body is found and Harper is called to the scene to investigate the body. Harper recognizes the woman's body and she is familiar to her. Who is she? Naomi Scott is a twenty four year old law student who was working in a bar to help make ends meet. She was shot and there are no witnesses to the crime.
There are three suspects of men that could have potentially committed the crime. Harper is trying to figure out which one of these men could have hurt Naomi and why. And to make the crime more interesting... someone is watching Harper's every move... talk about scary!!!
This was my first read by this author and didn't have a chance to read the first in the series. I would say this is a fine standalone but.. the story and plot from the first book was revealed at the beginning of the second book.
I enjoyed Harper's character and think she's a pretty strong and tough independent woman. My only issue was that the killer in my opinion ended up being a tad bit obvious for me and was hoping that the author would have delivered a nice twist.
Overall, this was a good police procedural novel!
4 stars for A Beautiful Corpse.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: 3/12/19
Published to Goodreads: 3/6/19
March 11, 2019
Crime reporter Harper McClain is back in the second book in this suspenseful series. A local woman is killed late at night in Savannah's tourist district. There are no witnesses to the crime, but the police have three suspects. Harper digs deep to discover who is behind the murder.
Harper is back, and after the events in the first book, her relationship with the Savannah police department is suffering. Since she is a crime reporter, this makes her job a little more challenging. Using the few connections she still has, along with her smarts and determination, Harper works to discover the killer in a local murder. This death has hit a little close to home since Harper knew the victim. Being close to the crime both helps and hinders her work as a crime reporter.
The local murder isn't the only mystery in Harper's life. It seems someone is watching her. This storyline started in the previous book, but it goes much further in this one. Add in work place drama and a little romance, and this makes for a gripping read.
I loved the first book in this series, The Echo Killing, so I was looking forward to reading this one. I'm happy to say, this continues to be an engaging and thrilling series. I recommend picking up the first book in this series before reading this one.
Compelling characters. Complex and entertaining story. Atmospheric setting. A perfect choice for fans of mystery thrillers.
I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Harper is back, and after the events in the first book, her relationship with the Savannah police department is suffering. Since she is a crime reporter, this makes her job a little more challenging. Using the few connections she still has, along with her smarts and determination, Harper works to discover the killer in a local murder. This death has hit a little close to home since Harper knew the victim. Being close to the crime both helps and hinders her work as a crime reporter.
The local murder isn't the only mystery in Harper's life. It seems someone is watching her. This storyline started in the previous book, but it goes much further in this one. Add in work place drama and a little romance, and this makes for a gripping read.
I loved the first book in this series, The Echo Killing, so I was looking forward to reading this one. I'm happy to say, this continues to be an engaging and thrilling series. I recommend picking up the first book in this series before reading this one.
Compelling characters. Complex and entertaining story. Atmospheric setting. A perfect choice for fans of mystery thrillers.
I received a free eARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 1, 2019
A Beautiful Corpse is the second novel in Harper McClain crime reporter series set in hot and humid Savannah, Georgia, and I already have a feeling that this is going to be added to my list of most engaging, exciting series of which I should never miss an instalment. This is crime fiction at its most entertaining, and Daugherty's characters are easy to support and invest in, especially feisty Harper. After flying through the first couple of pages I knew it was going to be a night of no sleep as I wanted to find out what happened to the victim; I was more than happy to dedicate those hours to reading rather than sleeping. The writing flows beautifully from page to page making devouring it in a single sitting the only viable option.
This fast, pacy crime tale can be read as a standalone without any problem, but I advise not missing out on the first novel even if you decide to pick it up after this. Cleverly written with a well thought out plot, this is a damn good read. It is a little predictable in places, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. The descriptions of the simmering Georgian heat were enough to make me fall in love back here in the chilly United Kingdom. If you prefer your crime to be credible and believable then this is a good choice; the author packs the book with authenticity and you can tell that her previous job as a crime reporter has informed her work. I look forward to getting my mitts on the third instalment.
Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
This fast, pacy crime tale can be read as a standalone without any problem, but I advise not missing out on the first novel even if you decide to pick it up after this. Cleverly written with a well thought out plot, this is a damn good read. It is a little predictable in places, but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. The descriptions of the simmering Georgian heat were enough to make me fall in love back here in the chilly United Kingdom. If you prefer your crime to be credible and believable then this is a good choice; the author packs the book with authenticity and you can tell that her previous job as a crime reporter has informed her work. I look forward to getting my mitts on the third instalment.
Many thanks to HarperCollins for an ARC.
May 15, 2019
I have a new series to look forward to! I absolutely loved this book, set in Savannah, Georgia. This was a compelling read, following the character of Harper McClain, an investigative crime reporter, as she becomes involved in the search for a killer of a young woman, Naomi, who is shot on her way home from her job at the "Library Bar". Harper's job is to get interviews from all three suspects. At the same time, Harper is dealing with her own problems - her house is broken into several times, with scary elements to this side story. There is even some romance which hopefully will continue in the next book. I read this book before the first in the series, "The Echo Killing", which I wish I'd read first, but this can be read as a stand-alone. I'm off to my library to look for "Echo Killing"! 5 stars
January 20, 2019
I loved this book! It was fast paced and the characters were great. The plot was interesting and interwoven with Harpers past. I’m going to backtrack and read the first in this series and am looking forward to whatever’s next for Harper.
Thanks to Minotaur for this early copy:)
Thanks to Minotaur for this early copy:)
December 16, 2018
Investigative journalist Harper McClain is searching for the killer of Naomi Scott a 24 year old law student.
The police have three suspects. Relying heavily on sources and her own investigative instincts Harper tries to unravel the mystery.
Harper McClain is a cool character even in the Savannah humidity that hangs so thick it leaves a white haze in the air. Christi Daugherty spins a good tale with strong characters and crisp dialogue that keeps the story moving.
I like seeing the mystery solved through the eyes of a reporter.
Well done.
I look forward to meeting Harper in the next book.
I recommend you read the first book in the series Echo Killing.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review
The police have three suspects. Relying heavily on sources and her own investigative instincts Harper tries to unravel the mystery.
Harper McClain is a cool character even in the Savannah humidity that hangs so thick it leaves a white haze in the air. Christi Daugherty spins a good tale with strong characters and crisp dialogue that keeps the story moving.
I like seeing the mystery solved through the eyes of a reporter.
Well done.
I look forward to meeting Harper in the next book.
I recommend you read the first book in the series Echo Killing.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review
March 12, 2019
A young woman is killed in the downtown of Savannah and for crime reporter Harper McClain this murder is especially brutal. She knows the victim; she worked at the bar where Harper's best friend is working. For Harper, it becomes personal to find the killer, but there are no witnesses. The police are down to three suspected killers: her boyfriend, the boss at the bar and the DA's son who dated the victim before it ended badly. All three men say they love her, but could love have turned into hate?
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
READ THE REST OF THE REVIEW OVER AT FRESH FICTION!
December 21, 2020
(4.5) I’m really enjoying this series! (The first 1 was good but I liked this 1 even more.) The characters are realistic & the mysterys are interesting. I guess tbh some of the crime “solving” is a little convenient, but it didn’t stop me from enjoying it & I find myself really looking forward to the next 1.
February 21, 2019
I had been dying to read this since I finished The Echo Killing and I was not disappointed. I love Harper McClain and A Beautiful Corpse is a great follow up. I raced through it, I couldn’t put it down. Great story, engaging characters and just a brilliant read! Bring on the next!
March 11, 2019
4.5 Stars
A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty is book two in her series featuring crime reporter Harper McClain, and it's a fast-paced and thoroughly riveting read! I went into the book not having read The Echo Killing first, so I feel it can definitely be read as a standalone because Daugherty gives enough backstory about book one at the beginning that you aren't lost. After reading this book, I immediately understood why so many of my bookish best friends LOVE this series, Harper's character, and Daugherty's phenomenal storytelling skills!
Funnily enough, I just spent the past few days of my vacation in Savannah, Georgia where the novel takes place. It's one of my most favorite cities in the world because it's just so graceful, gorgeous, and charming. It's a historic fairy-tale, and you'd never in your wildest imagination picture a murder happening downtown among the graceful, stately mansions and lacey, draping Spanish moss, right on streets that I was walking on yesterday...yet, that's exactly what happens in Daugherty's latest book and it's beyond chilling!
When crime reporter Harper McClain gets the call that there's been a murder, she races to the scene with her friend Bonnie, and what they discover is shockingly devastating! The victim is Bonnie's coworker Naomi Scott, a compassionate, intelligent law student who had huge plans for her future, now gunned down at only age twenty-four.
Who would have wanted to kill Naomi? The suspect list seems to immediately close in on her boyfriend but soon extends to her dangerous, threatening ex-boyfriend, who happens to be from one of the most powerful families in Savannah, and her stalkerish boss.
Harper is determined to find out who the killer is and report on the crime no matter what, even with the police shutting her out because of events that happened in book one; not only does she want to find Naomi's killer but her job is on the line because of cuts at the newspaper, so she has to break this story!
While Harper is busy investigating, there's also a couple of other plots going on in the book that ties in with the first book, so I won't say any more about them except that I hope to see more romance in Harper's future because the chemistry is amazing! Oh, did I mention Harper has a stalker?!
I really love Harper's character! She's stubborn, strong, and tenacious about going for what she believes and doing what is the right thing, and that just made me admire her so much! I also loved how she also shows repeatedly that she's a very empathetic and caring person even in the toughest of situations.
This is a smart, complex, and well-written mystery! It might have been my first book by Daugherty, but I've since read The Echo Killing, which was also fantastic, and I cannot wait to read more about Harper! Thankfully,A Beautiful Corpse ended with enough of a tidbit by Daugherty that we know to expect more, and I'm already excited about reading the next book as soon as I can get my hands on it. Wonderfully written and most definitely recommended!
**Thank you, Minotaur Books for the copy to read and review. All opinions are my own. **
A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty is book two in her series featuring crime reporter Harper McClain, and it's a fast-paced and thoroughly riveting read! I went into the book not having read The Echo Killing first, so I feel it can definitely be read as a standalone because Daugherty gives enough backstory about book one at the beginning that you aren't lost. After reading this book, I immediately understood why so many of my bookish best friends LOVE this series, Harper's character, and Daugherty's phenomenal storytelling skills!
Funnily enough, I just spent the past few days of my vacation in Savannah, Georgia where the novel takes place. It's one of my most favorite cities in the world because it's just so graceful, gorgeous, and charming. It's a historic fairy-tale, and you'd never in your wildest imagination picture a murder happening downtown among the graceful, stately mansions and lacey, draping Spanish moss, right on streets that I was walking on yesterday...yet, that's exactly what happens in Daugherty's latest book and it's beyond chilling!
When crime reporter Harper McClain gets the call that there's been a murder, she races to the scene with her friend Bonnie, and what they discover is shockingly devastating! The victim is Bonnie's coworker Naomi Scott, a compassionate, intelligent law student who had huge plans for her future, now gunned down at only age twenty-four.
Who would have wanted to kill Naomi? The suspect list seems to immediately close in on her boyfriend but soon extends to her dangerous, threatening ex-boyfriend, who happens to be from one of the most powerful families in Savannah, and her stalkerish boss.
Harper is determined to find out who the killer is and report on the crime no matter what, even with the police shutting her out because of events that happened in book one; not only does she want to find Naomi's killer but her job is on the line because of cuts at the newspaper, so she has to break this story!
While Harper is busy investigating, there's also a couple of other plots going on in the book that ties in with the first book, so I won't say any more about them except that I hope to see more romance in Harper's future because the chemistry is amazing! Oh, did I mention Harper has a stalker?!
I really love Harper's character! She's stubborn, strong, and tenacious about going for what she believes and doing what is the right thing, and that just made me admire her so much! I also loved how she also shows repeatedly that she's a very empathetic and caring person even in the toughest of situations.
This is a smart, complex, and well-written mystery! It might have been my first book by Daugherty, but I've since read The Echo Killing, which was also fantastic, and I cannot wait to read more about Harper! Thankfully,A Beautiful Corpse ended with enough of a tidbit by Daugherty that we know to expect more, and I'm already excited about reading the next book as soon as I can get my hands on it. Wonderfully written and most definitely recommended!
**Thank you, Minotaur Books for the copy to read and review. All opinions are my own. **
March 29, 2019
Harper McClain, a crime reporter for the Savannah Daily News, is hanging out with her friend Bonnie when she gets a call about a murder. Reaching the scene she realizes that the murdered woman is Naomi Scott who works with Bonnie. The police believe that Naomi’s boyfriend is guilty but Harper feels they are pursuing the wrong man. She is pretty sure that a suspect with a powerful family connections might have a hand in Naomi’s murder and to top all of this off there might be somebody stalking Harper
A Beautiful Corpse is the second book in Harper McClain series and though can be read as a stand alone the plot of the first book is revealed in the beginning of this book.A strong female protagonist and a story with lots of twists & turns will keep you hooked till he end.The only problem was that this book kind of ends in a cliffhanger and so cannot wait to read the next in the series.
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
A Beautiful Corpse is the second book in Harper McClain series and though can be read as a stand alone the plot of the first book is revealed in the beginning of this book.A strong female protagonist and a story with lots of twists & turns will keep you hooked till he end.The only problem was that this book kind of ends in a cliffhanger and so cannot wait to read the next in the series.
I would like to thank St. Martin’s Press & NetGalley for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest and fair review.
This and more reviews at https://chloesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
May 7, 2019
I am really enjoying these books by US authors, I enjoy the speed of them, the depth of the female lead characters and the action.
I didn't read the previous book, and I will be looking out for it.
Thanks to NetGalley, Christi Daugherty and Harper Collins
I didn't read the previous book, and I will be looking out for it.
Thanks to NetGalley, Christi Daugherty and Harper Collins
April 25, 2019
A Beautiful Corpse by Christi Daugherty is the 2nd book in the Harper McClain series. I wasn’t planning to write up a review for this but I forgot to for book #1 (The Echo Killing) & the series deserves more attention. The main draw for me is the setting, Savannah, Georgia; the antebellum architecture, Spanish moss & hypnotic vibe. Harper McClain is a tenacious newspaper reporter, who throughout the series becomes responsible for her paper’s daily front page story. Book 1 sets the stage & the 2nd one knocks it out of the park. I was so happy to find the sequel more nuanced & not just a formulaic replica of the first, which is why I don’t normally read serials. I’m glad I found one to invest in. The audiobooks for these are narrated by one of my favorites, Sophie Amoss, & she’s fantastic. I highly recommend giving Harper McClain a try! -x
March 4, 2019
A BEAUTIFUL CORPSE by Christi Daugherty is the second book in a series featuring Harper McClain, crime reporter for the local Savannah newspaper. Naomi, a young woman Harper knows through her best friend Bonnie is shot and killed on River Street. That mystery is the central storyline of this book and is solved within this nove. There is some carry over from the first book where Harper solved a murder and revealed a police officer as being the murderer. This has created great animosity between Harper and the police department and this stress carries through much of the novel. This fractured relationship makes it harder for her to do her job and when she has ideas which may help police solve the murder, their resentment of her makes them less than receptive to her information.
A secondary storyline is Harper still dealing with a break-in at her apartment in the historic district which also apparently took place in the first novel. In this book, she relives much of that stress as it becomes apparent she is now being stalked and the stalker has somehow gained access to her apartment. As this storyline moves forward, the question arises as to the true intentions of the stalker, does he want to harm Harper or does he have concern for her well-being. This storyline progresses, but is not resolved with this book. It is unclear if the issue will be resolved in the next book in the series, however, there is enough connection that if a reader might be best served to begin the series with the first novel and move forward as the story progresses.
There is also a love interest as a minor storyline. In the previous novel, apparently Harper and Luke were an item until Luke dumped Harper. They are now thrown together as he has been promoted to detective and they are both investigating Naomi’s murder. Whether or not they resolve their problems and renew their affair is a question that continues past this novel.
As the book progresses, the reader can experience the heat and humidity of Coastal Georgia as Harper moves around Savannah.. This physical aspects of heat and humidity, along with some occasional references to Spanish moss are the primary pieces of information that reveal the book is placed in Savannah. Not much information regarding the area exists in the book.
Throughout the book, the tension is high. The reader is constantly reminded of the problems between Harper and the police department in addition to feeling her fear at being stalked and trying to figure out what he wants. Once Harper determines who the murderer is, the tension ratchets up as her safety becomes threatened.
Most readers will find it easy to determine the identify of the murderer as more of the book is a “how did the murderer accomplish it” than “who was the murderer”. With strong secondary storylines, many readers will want to continue the series to learn what happens to Harper. It is well written and the characters are well drawn in terms of distinct personalities, etc. If you like books that have a high degree of tension, this may be the series for you.
A secondary storyline is Harper still dealing with a break-in at her apartment in the historic district which also apparently took place in the first novel. In this book, she relives much of that stress as it becomes apparent she is now being stalked and the stalker has somehow gained access to her apartment. As this storyline moves forward, the question arises as to the true intentions of the stalker, does he want to harm Harper or does he have concern for her well-being. This storyline progresses, but is not resolved with this book. It is unclear if the issue will be resolved in the next book in the series, however, there is enough connection that if a reader might be best served to begin the series with the first novel and move forward as the story progresses.
There is also a love interest as a minor storyline. In the previous novel, apparently Harper and Luke were an item until Luke dumped Harper. They are now thrown together as he has been promoted to detective and they are both investigating Naomi’s murder. Whether or not they resolve their problems and renew their affair is a question that continues past this novel.
As the book progresses, the reader can experience the heat and humidity of Coastal Georgia as Harper moves around Savannah.. This physical aspects of heat and humidity, along with some occasional references to Spanish moss are the primary pieces of information that reveal the book is placed in Savannah. Not much information regarding the area exists in the book.
Throughout the book, the tension is high. The reader is constantly reminded of the problems between Harper and the police department in addition to feeling her fear at being stalked and trying to figure out what he wants. Once Harper determines who the murderer is, the tension ratchets up as her safety becomes threatened.
Most readers will find it easy to determine the identify of the murderer as more of the book is a “how did the murderer accomplish it” than “who was the murderer”. With strong secondary storylines, many readers will want to continue the series to learn what happens to Harper. It is well written and the characters are well drawn in terms of distinct personalities, etc. If you like books that have a high degree of tension, this may be the series for you.
January 5, 2019
Harper McClain is a report that cover the crime beat. What an exciting mystery! Would you investigate if someone got murdered close to you? I think this story was exciting and kept my attention. I have not read book one and I don't think I missed anything by starting with book two. I enjoyed this book and would read more. *This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.*
March 13, 2019
This is the second book in a series that follows Harper McClain, a crime reporter living in Savannah. I recommend reading the first book in the series before this one because there’s quite a bit of background information about Harper’s life in the first book and there’s a secondary storyline about her mother���s death that has threads in both books. Side note, I listened to the first book and the audio was great so I’m sure this would be awesome on audio as well.
I know there are some series with a crime reporter as the lead character but I’ve never encountered one with such an engaging protagonist like Harper. She’s bold, fearless and just downright fun to read about, she has personality plus, a real firecracker and her personal history is also intriguing. There’s a nice balance between her job and her personal life, plenty enough to where you feel like you understand her and her motivations in life. I love the unique angle her job provides, she has more access than a civilian does but she’s not actually a cop so she has to be creative and tenacious to find answers and she’s like a dog with a bone when it comes to finding the truth.
As much as the main storyline hooked me what really piques my interest is the side plot where someone is watching Harper. The author cleverly answers a few questions from the first book but leaves things very open in the end leaving the door wide open for excitement in the next book, and I for one cannot wait to see what happens next!
A Beautiful Corpse in three words: Sharp, Smart and Steady
I know there are some series with a crime reporter as the lead character but I’ve never encountered one with such an engaging protagonist like Harper. She’s bold, fearless and just downright fun to read about, she has personality plus, a real firecracker and her personal history is also intriguing. There’s a nice balance between her job and her personal life, plenty enough to where you feel like you understand her and her motivations in life. I love the unique angle her job provides, she has more access than a civilian does but she’s not actually a cop so she has to be creative and tenacious to find answers and she’s like a dog with a bone when it comes to finding the truth.
As much as the main storyline hooked me what really piques my interest is the side plot where someone is watching Harper. The author cleverly answers a few questions from the first book but leaves things very open in the end leaving the door wide open for excitement in the next book, and I for one cannot wait to see what happens next!
A Beautiful Corpse in three words: Sharp, Smart and Steady
October 31, 2020
A Beautiful Corpse was a fantastic follow up to The Echo Killing that has Harper investigating a murder while dealing with the fallout of the first book.
Very little shocks crime reporter Harper McClain these days. But when she heads to the scene of a young woman's murder, Harper is shocked to discover she knows the victim. Law student Naomi Scott was just getting started in life, tending bar to makes ends meet. Gunned down with no witnesses to the crime and three potential suspects, the police have their work cut out for them if they hope to find her killer. As Harper digs into Naomi's life, it quickly becomes clear someone wants Harper to stop looking and they're willing to do anything to get what they want.
Harper continues to be an amazing character who is fantastic at her job. The author's background as a crime reporter definitely helped Harper and her work feel realistic. Harper's research capabilities and quick thinking once again assist her during her investigation. She continues to be tenacious when she finds a lead she considers promising, even when others tell her to drop it. After the events of The Echo Killing, Harper is on the outs with the Savannah cops with most refusing to assist her and others being outright hostile towards her. However, Harper refuses to let it hinder her work and when things escalate she has no problem demanding better treatment.
Naomi's murder proved to be much more complex than initially presented. There are inconsistencies in the narrative the cops are pushing which makes Harper even more determined to find out what really happened. She once again teams up with fellow reporter David to investigate and together the pair are able to find a suspect with powerful connections, the district attorney’s son, that the cops refuse to look at further. The politics of dealing with a powerful family intrude on Harper's articles at the paper with her requiring more people to sign off on her work than she's used to. The plot took several turns I didn't expect and overall I was happy with the direction things went. The ending is well done and there are some interesting developments for Harper on a personal level that I'm curious to see how they'll affect things going forward.
Overall I really enjoyed A Beautiful Corpse and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Revolver Road, soon. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a great mystery thriller series.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
Very little shocks crime reporter Harper McClain these days. But when she heads to the scene of a young woman's murder, Harper is shocked to discover she knows the victim. Law student Naomi Scott was just getting started in life, tending bar to makes ends meet. Gunned down with no witnesses to the crime and three potential suspects, the police have their work cut out for them if they hope to find her killer. As Harper digs into Naomi's life, it quickly becomes clear someone wants Harper to stop looking and they're willing to do anything to get what they want.
Harper continues to be an amazing character who is fantastic at her job. The author's background as a crime reporter definitely helped Harper and her work feel realistic. Harper's research capabilities and quick thinking once again assist her during her investigation. She continues to be tenacious when she finds a lead she considers promising, even when others tell her to drop it. After the events of The Echo Killing, Harper is on the outs with the Savannah cops with most refusing to assist her and others being outright hostile towards her. However, Harper refuses to let it hinder her work and when things escalate she has no problem demanding better treatment.
Naomi's murder proved to be much more complex than initially presented. There are inconsistencies in the narrative the cops are pushing which makes Harper even more determined to find out what really happened. She once again teams up with fellow reporter David to investigate and together the pair are able to find a suspect with powerful connections, the district attorney’s son, that the cops refuse to look at further. The politics of dealing with a powerful family intrude on Harper's articles at the paper with her requiring more people to sign off on her work than she's used to. The plot took several turns I didn't expect and overall I was happy with the direction things went. The ending is well done and there are some interesting developments for Harper on a personal level that I'm curious to see how they'll affect things going forward.
Overall I really enjoyed A Beautiful Corpse and I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Revolver Road, soon. I highly recommend this book if you're looking for a great mystery thriller series.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
December 26, 2019
There is just something about the lead character being believable and like-able, as is the case with Harper. Smooth writing and a good story, I will be looking for the next in this series. These can be read out of order. It seemed as though there may have been a first book, but story is clear on its own.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 373 reviews