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Professor Maxie Reddick Files #2
Wrong Sort Of Girl
A girl is missing. Everyone thinks they know who is to blame. Nobody seems to care . . .
When Kelly, a young girl with a complicated past, vanishes, Lonsdale erupts with whispers and finger-pointing.
It's local knowledge that Kelly likes to party, she likes to flirt and she’s fond of a drink. None of that is against the law, but criminology professor Maxie Reddick knows all too well what prejudices small communities can hold.
Kelly is a care-home kid, labelled and overlooked. Not one of the agencies that could help to find her — police, press, commenters on social media — seem to care. When a more ‘deserving’ person goes missing, their response makes a stark contrast.
But Maxie can’t look away and begins asking questions, unofficially. She knows the system is broken and a girl like Kelly might be running out of time.
As she delves deeper into Kelly’s life and that of her volatile boyfriend, she becomes convinced that there’s something more to this case.
Because the people who want Kelly silenced won’t stop at just one girl.
Perfect for fans of Matt Brolly, Lisa Jewell and Claire McGowan.
MEET PROFESSOR MAXIE
Professor Maxine “Maxie” Reddick is a sharp, outspoken criminologist with a tragic past and a fierce sense of justice. Direct and fearless in the classroom and on her hit podcast, Criminal Thoughts, Maxie is not afraid to challenge the police — or to get involved when the system fails victims. Haunted by her sister’s unsolved murder, she’ll do whatever it takes to make sure another woman doesn’t slip through the cracks.
READERS LOVE WRONG SORT OF GIRL:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘. . . another pulsating and gripping story with so many twists and turns.’ Karen M
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘. . . it kept me hooked.’ Donna M
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A nail-biting thriller, it's skilfully written and utterly gripping, and kept me guessing until almost the very end.’ Coco
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This is one heck of a 'who dun it'!’ Barbara
When Kelly, a young girl with a complicated past, vanishes, Lonsdale erupts with whispers and finger-pointing.
It's local knowledge that Kelly likes to party, she likes to flirt and she’s fond of a drink. None of that is against the law, but criminology professor Maxie Reddick knows all too well what prejudices small communities can hold.
Kelly is a care-home kid, labelled and overlooked. Not one of the agencies that could help to find her — police, press, commenters on social media — seem to care. When a more ‘deserving’ person goes missing, their response makes a stark contrast.
But Maxie can’t look away and begins asking questions, unofficially. She knows the system is broken and a girl like Kelly might be running out of time.
As she delves deeper into Kelly’s life and that of her volatile boyfriend, she becomes convinced that there’s something more to this case.
Because the people who want Kelly silenced won’t stop at just one girl.
Perfect for fans of Matt Brolly, Lisa Jewell and Claire McGowan.
MEET PROFESSOR MAXIE
Professor Maxine “Maxie” Reddick is a sharp, outspoken criminologist with a tragic past and a fierce sense of justice. Direct and fearless in the classroom and on her hit podcast, Criminal Thoughts, Maxie is not afraid to challenge the police — or to get involved when the system fails victims. Haunted by her sister’s unsolved murder, she’ll do whatever it takes to make sure another woman doesn’t slip through the cracks.
READERS LOVE WRONG SORT OF GIRL:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘. . . another pulsating and gripping story with so many twists and turns.’ Karen M
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘. . . it kept me hooked.’ Donna M
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A nail-biting thriller, it's skilfully written and utterly gripping, and kept me guessing until almost the very end.’ Coco
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘This is one heck of a 'who dun it'!’ Barbara
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 11, 2025
10 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Helen Bridgett
14 books25 followersHelen has always loved books and always loved writing. One year she decided her New Year’s resolution would be “Write a novel to give as a Christmas present”. She spent the year writing and The Mercury Travel Club was born.
Helen hails from the North East When not writing, Helen can usually be found walking or drinking wine – not usually at the same time.
Like many people, Helen believes that the music you grow up with as a teenager stays with you for the whole of your life. Being a child of 80’s rock, when she hears the opening riff to Sweet Child of Mine, she cannot be held responsible for her actions!
Helen hails from the North East When not writing, Helen can usually be found walking or drinking wine – not usually at the same time.
Like many people, Helen believes that the music you grow up with as a teenager stays with you for the whole of your life. Being a child of 80’s rock, when she hears the opening riff to Sweet Child of Mine, she cannot be held responsible for her actions!
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
October 14, 2021
A week before Christmas and Kelly Ingles was having the time of her life. The work party had moved on to a nightclub, and her friend Rowan had gone with her. It was 2am when Rowan went to the bathroom in preparation of leaving, but Kelly was gone when she returned to the bar. Frustrated and exhausted, she returned home, preparing for work the next day. An elderly couple who lived not far from Rowan reported Kelly missing later the following day – Kelly always visited them at 3pm; she treated them as grandparents and never missed. With the police was Maxie Reddick, criminology professor – talking to Rowan and the elderly couple, Maxie felt uneasy. They interviewed Luis, Kelly’s Spanish boyfriend and although they discovered he had a volatile temper, Maxie wasn’t sure what to think.
As the hours and days moved forward and there was nothing to point to what had happened to Kelly, Maxie and Andrew, the police officer, followed every lead they could, no matter how small. The DI was pushing for Andrew to close the case by Christmas Eve whether Kelly was found or not. But Maxie wouldn’t let it go. Would she discover where Kelly was and what had happened to her?
Wrong Sort of Girl is the 2nd in the Professor Maxie Reddick Files by Helen Bridgett, and it was intense, gritty and pretty full on. I pinpointed the culprit early in the piece but enjoyed the journey to the end. Wrong Sort of Girl has a different and unusual plot which worked, and the characters were well crafted. Highly recommended.
With thanks to ChocLit for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
As the hours and days moved forward and there was nothing to point to what had happened to Kelly, Maxie and Andrew, the police officer, followed every lead they could, no matter how small. The DI was pushing for Andrew to close the case by Christmas Eve whether Kelly was found or not. But Maxie wouldn’t let it go. Would she discover where Kelly was and what had happened to her?
Wrong Sort of Girl is the 2nd in the Professor Maxie Reddick Files by Helen Bridgett, and it was intense, gritty and pretty full on. I pinpointed the culprit early in the piece but enjoyed the journey to the end. Wrong Sort of Girl has a different and unusual plot which worked, and the characters were well crafted. Highly recommended.
With thanks to ChocLit for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
October 15, 2021
I really enjoyed this although it wasn’t quite perfect. I really liked the premise that the general public only really care about perfectly behaved photogenic people that go missing and that it’s hard to engage people when it’s someone who doesn’t live up to that perfection as our missing girl Kelly. The book starts with her flaws but we hear more positive elements as it goes along. She’s a full character even though she’s actually only visible for about 5% of the book. The main character is Maxie who helps the police track her down.
I had problems with the friends of Kelly. Not one of them was likeable. Kelly seems to not treat her friends and lovers very well. One person having the personality type to put up with that is ok but everyone of them seems overkill especially when she’s missing none of them then care. And then Maxie invites them all around for xmas!
It did keep me reading and I finished it really quickly with no skipping. I felt invested in finding this character that was missing for the majority of the book.
I had problems with the friends of Kelly. Not one of them was likeable. Kelly seems to not treat her friends and lovers very well. One person having the personality type to put up with that is ok but everyone of them seems overkill especially when she’s missing none of them then care. And then Maxie invites them all around for xmas!
It did keep me reading and I finished it really quickly with no skipping. I felt invested in finding this character that was missing for the majority of the book.
December 24, 2022
This is Book 2 in the Maxie Reddick Files, but very easily read as a standalone, and it's another pulsating and gripping story with so many twists and turns, as the race to find Kelly hots up.
We're introduced to the character of Kelly who is out clubbing and appears to be a bit of a party animal. And that trait goes against her when she goes missing - her friends alert the police when she doesn't show up to where she's supposed to be and trying to get the media onside when she's not seen as a 'good girl' sets the investigation back as resources aren't put their way.
Maxie is sent in to help with the case and she is one of those who sees past the 'image' and tries to get the backstory of Kelly and you meet many people in her circle that do set some alarm bells about the way they behave. You become as judgemental as the police and media!!
I really loved seeing the process play out of how you go about trying to find someone who just disappears without trace and try to get some leads on who was in their life at the time, or what they were hiding. The story really zips along and there's always a new discovery about Kelly or those in her circle to throw you off the path you thought the story was going to take! Or maybe that was just me!!
It was so fascinating to see the impact of social media, especially the judging and commenting on a case where they didn't know the missing woman but had formed an opinion based on her background and outlook on life. A fabulous piece of thriller writing!
We're introduced to the character of Kelly who is out clubbing and appears to be a bit of a party animal. And that trait goes against her when she goes missing - her friends alert the police when she doesn't show up to where she's supposed to be and trying to get the media onside when she's not seen as a 'good girl' sets the investigation back as resources aren't put their way.
Maxie is sent in to help with the case and she is one of those who sees past the 'image' and tries to get the backstory of Kelly and you meet many people in her circle that do set some alarm bells about the way they behave. You become as judgemental as the police and media!!
I really loved seeing the process play out of how you go about trying to find someone who just disappears without trace and try to get some leads on who was in their life at the time, or what they were hiding. The story really zips along and there's always a new discovery about Kelly or those in her circle to throw you off the path you thought the story was going to take! Or maybe that was just me!!
It was so fascinating to see the impact of social media, especially the judging and commenting on a case where they didn't know the missing woman but had formed an opinion based on her background and outlook on life. A fabulous piece of thriller writing!
October 12, 2021
Kelly and Rowan are friends who met at university. Kelly parties too much, flirts with strangers and can’t handle her drink. Rowan is always trying to look after her. Kelly meets two guys at a Christmas party and Rowan tries to persuade her to go home. Rowan pops to the toilet but when she gets back to the bar, Kelly has disappeared & has taken her coat from the cloakroom.
Maxie is a Professor of Criminology who works with the police to help with missing persons cases. She gets a call from policeman Andrew about a missing woman. They go to visit an elderly couple who reported Kelly missing. They then go to visit Rowan, and finally Kelly’s boyfriend Luis.
They notice that Luis has a temper and that Kelly hasn’t got many clothes at his flat. Her suitcase and passport are also missing. Luis is angry that Kelly didn’t come home last night and that she hadn’t stayed with Rowan.
Is this a simple case of a jealous boyfriend who has finally snapped or are there other suspects who could have abducted Kelly? Has Kelly had enough of Luis’ jealousy and decided to leave him?
Really enjoyed this book. There are lots of twists & it kept me hooked.
Maxie is a Professor of Criminology who works with the police to help with missing persons cases. She gets a call from policeman Andrew about a missing woman. They go to visit an elderly couple who reported Kelly missing. They then go to visit Rowan, and finally Kelly’s boyfriend Luis.
They notice that Luis has a temper and that Kelly hasn’t got many clothes at his flat. Her suitcase and passport are also missing. Luis is angry that Kelly didn’t come home last night and that she hadn’t stayed with Rowan.
Is this a simple case of a jealous boyfriend who has finally snapped or are there other suspects who could have abducted Kelly? Has Kelly had enough of Luis’ jealousy and decided to leave him?
Really enjoyed this book. There are lots of twists & it kept me hooked.
September 12, 2021
In this second "file", Professor Maxie Reddick (introduced in One by One earlier this year) applies her expertise in criminology to help the police investigate missing person cases. Weaved in through the intriguing plot with twists essential to this kind of story, the novel presents an interesting reflection on unconscious bias as the disappearance of a "wild party girl" is compared to that of an adorable old lady. I enjoyed that as much as the mystery itself.
For those who haven't met Maxie yet, this book doesn't spoil the previous one's plot, and having read book 1 is not necessary to understand what's happening in this one, so it's entirely possible to start here as long as you don't mind going backward in the heroine's life events if/when you read the other book later.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
For those who haven't met Maxie yet, this book doesn't spoil the previous one's plot, and having read book 1 is not necessary to understand what's happening in this one, so it's entirely possible to start here as long as you don't mind going backward in the heroine's life events if/when you read the other book later.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 18, 2021
Maxie Reddick is contacted by a family friend who's concerned about a missing person. Maxie, a professor of criminology, has assisted the police before and she and detective sergeant Andrew Dawson join forces in the investigation.
When the news of Kelly's disappearance is released by the media there's a general lack of public interest. Kelly Ingles is a party girl who enjoys clubbing, flirts indiscriminately and drinks far too much. There's disapproval of her lifestyle and the opinion is that she'll reappear in her own time. But as time goes by there's still no sign of Kelly.......
As in Helen Bridgett’s previous book, One by One (also excellent), there are umpteen clues to mislead the reader.
Wrong Sort of Girl is a nail biting thriller, it's skilfully written and utterly gripping, and kept me guessing until almost the very end.
When the news of Kelly's disappearance is released by the media there's a general lack of public interest. Kelly Ingles is a party girl who enjoys clubbing, flirts indiscriminately and drinks far too much. There's disapproval of her lifestyle and the opinion is that she'll reappear in her own time. But as time goes by there's still no sign of Kelly.......
As in Helen Bridgett’s previous book, One by One (also excellent), there are umpteen clues to mislead the reader.
Wrong Sort of Girl is a nail biting thriller, it's skilfully written and utterly gripping, and kept me guessing until almost the very end.
October 13, 2021
This is one heck of a 'who dun it'! I was totally absorbed from page 1. The cast of characters was well observed and believable. The plot was, to me, both highly possible and highly unusual. The total premise around which the story was written I had sort of realised but it totally brought home to me how much we judge people, even if only subconsciously. Crime stories I always enjoy and this one was no exception. The lead characters, Kelly and Luis, Maxie and Andrew, were fascinating people as were all those involved in this missing person story. Right till the final pages I was unable to decide who the villains were, a most unusual event for me. I am awaiting Helen's next with eager anticipation.
October 13, 2021
Helen Bridgett’s Wrong Sort of Girl, is the second in her Maxie Reddick series. This was described as an intense and gripping thriller and does what it says on the tin. It was lovely to meet Maxie Reddick again. A Professor of Criminology, she works with the police on a joint initiative - the ACU. Maxie is totally relatable and we see the case unfold through her eyes as she examines every angle. A gripping read that had me hooked, with many twists and turns along the way, I hope we see more of Maxie soon.
October 14, 2021
Not only are the characters in this story challenged to view everyone without prejudices, the reader is too. A really topical story which in no way preaches and can be read just for the excitement and enjoyment. The main character, Professor Maxie Reddick has her own personal issues to confront and as she gets more and more involved with the search for Kelly the tension mounts. This is a really enjoyable and different style of detective/mystery story and is well worth reading.
October 12, 2021
This is more than just an exciting detective story. It also challenges us as readers about our preconceptions and stereotypes. Should we care less about the victim because she was a party animal? I really enjoyed seeing the investigation in to her disappearance through the eyes of a criminology professor rather than just a detective. Gripping story!
November 4, 2021
Kelly has disappeared after a night out and it doesn’t seem like anyone close to her cares if she is found. Those closest to her seem to be stalling or misdirecting the investigation. Maxi is on the case, but will she find Kelly in time? Exciting book full of twists and turns – it kept me on the edge of my seat. Loved it!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews