Good Girl Bad Girl

Kal Medi #1

by Ann Girdharry

A READERS FAVOURITE FIVE STAR BOOK

Kal's got guts but has she got what it takes to face the truth and find her missing mother?

A stalker. A pact. And a deadly secret...

Kal is twenty-eight years old and she’s no fool, though sometimes she might pretend to be, because hiding her strengths is a great way to extract information.

An expert in psychology and skilled in reading other people and their behaviours, she first learnt her craft from her deceased father. He was a man with dark secrets.

When her journalist mother goes missing, Kal investigates. A shadow’s been stalking her family for three generations. Kal will uncover a child trafficking network and to find her mother, she must face her deepest suspicions and a dread she's been avoiding all her life…

Good Girl Bad Girl is a psychological suspense thriller. It’s the first in the Kal Medi series.

Early review comments-

"The storyline was intense… I couldn't put it down.” Goodreads reviewer

"Dangerous territory for exploration in a first novel...This is a terrific start for an author who demonstrates strong promise. 5 stars."
Hall of Fame, Top 100 reviewer, Vine Voice

"A great suspenseful thriller written beautifully" thecoffeeandkindle blogspot

"Kal Medi is a character with a lot of potential and a lot of fire..." JenMed Reviews

"...on the edge of my seat throughout..." Amazon reviewer

"A real kick-ass heroine and a great lead character" Grab This Book

"From the very start I was hooked..." Bloomin' Brilliant Books

"Placing itself amongst a very few in the genre with a non-white main character... a splendid and intriguing thriller that will keep you up at night." The Serial Reader

"… full of suspense… a lot of twists and turns… Ann Girdharry really is a seriously good writer...”
Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers’ Favourite

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Fiction, Crime, Suspense, Psychological Thriller, Adventure

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 7, 2016

About the author

Ann Girdharry writes crime thrillers and psychological suspense.

She's a Kindle Storyteller Award Finalist 2022 and her debut novel was an ERIC HOFFER Book Award Finalist.

Here are a few fun facts -

I love to travel and I've lived in the USA, Norway, UK and France.

One of my passions is gardening and another is Krav Maga self-defence.

You can connect with me -

Via my website
http://www.girdharry.com

On Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/AnnGirdharry...

My Reader's Group
Be the first to know about my new releases by joining my Reader's Group.
(No spam, I promise! ) - details on my website.

Titles

I Know You Saw Her
The Couple Upstairs
The Woman in Room 19

Deadly Motives
Deadly Secrets
Deadly Lies
Deadly Silent

Good Girl Bad Girl
London Noir
The Beauty Killers

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very easy to read and entertaining thriller which kept my interest from beginning to end.

Kal Medi is one of those larger than life heroines who has been "trained" to be faster, stronger, tougher and all round better than your average human being. Her father was a criminal and she worries that she is like him. When her back is to the wall will she be a good girl or a bad one?

She certainly has plenty of opportunity to find out in this book as she searches for her missing mother and takes on a paedophile ring practically single handed. There is a lot of action, plenty of evil characters and some gory bits.

All good fun and there is a second book to look forward to. (London Noir)

[ReadAlongWithSue ★⋆. ࿐࿔catching up · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like all Journalist they like to be on top of their game, first on the scene and the best at their job.
If you are freelance, after all, you need to get the scoop to get the highest money.

Kal is no different.

She has been right in the center of danger, but that is the adrenaline that keeps Journalist enthralled and get the best story. This Kals job, this is Kals vocation.

Her Mother Alesha is an Investigation Journalist, a little bit different, but nevertheless is still a job that takes you on dangerous territory.

Kal gets asked by her Mother to return home, she needs her to help with an Investigation, but then, Aleshas mom's friend rings her to inform her that her Mother has gone missing.

A note is left behind, this is of no surprise as it seems to run in the family tradition of what is going on through generations in this family.

Personally I found it a bit lacking at the start, you really need to stay with it. It does pick up pace then it gets to a point where it seems drawn out again, but then picks up pace again.

Its a good story, I loved it, hence 4 stars, but it was hard going at times.
All in all though, an enjoyable read.
You just need to be patient for the pace to intensify now and again.


My thanks to the author and the person who contacted me to encourage me to read this book.

[David Staniforth · Rating 4 out of 5]

With interesting characters and a strong premise, this was an enjoyable read. It was a slow starter however, and for me the pace kept dropping away. At those points I could easily have had trouble sticking with it, but made sure I only put the book aside at a high point, of which there were many. Structurally, a few word choices and their connotations, didn't quite work for me. They had an impact on the flow of my reading and may be why the pacing also felt slightly off. Therein, the rating I had in mind fluctuated from three to four and a half, so I've settled on four and am looking forward to reading the next instalment.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Girl Bad Girl is book one in the Kal Medi series by Ann Girdharry. Kali Medi came home to find her mother missing. Not trusting the detective Inspector Spinks she started to investigate on her own. However, Kali Medi found out more then she bargained for that rock her well, and it will never be the same. The readers will go on a roller coaster ride with Kal to find out what happens to her mother.

Good Girl Bad Girl is a thrilling read, and I enjoy reading this book. I like the way Ann Girdharry portrays her characters, and their interaction with each other certainly got me engaged with them. Good Girl Bad Girl is the first book I have read of Ann Girdharry, and I do enjoy her writing style and the way she describes her setting. Good Girl Bad Girl did engage me from the beginning, and I was unable to put it down until the last page. I enjoy that Ann Girdharry provided her reader's a character that was different.

The readers of Good Girl Bad Girl will see what revenge can do to a person. Also, the readers of Good Girl Bad Girl will learn about martial arts and self-defence.

Thank you to Ann Girdharry and Voracious Readers for my ARC copy of this book for an honest review. I recommend this book.

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the very start I was hooked. Ann effectively opens Good Girl Bad Girl with a first chapter that leaves a lot of questions in the mind of the reader that you just have to find the answers to. What has happened to her mother? Why have the family been receiving threatening notes? What was the main character’s father teaching her as a child that was so unusual?

Kal, a photojournalist, is dragged into a seedy underworld following the sudden disappearance of her mother. Taken on a journey she didn’t expect to be a part of, the reader follows her every step of the way. The intrigue and action does not let up, eventually resulting in the climatic conclusion.

Kal Medi is a great character. She is independent, intelligent, single-minded and strong and yet I was able to empathise with her as you get glimpses into her vulnerabilities which make her all the more human and relatable to. The relationship she had with her father is an interesting one and adds another layer to both the character and the story. This is the first in what is going to be a series of books and I really look forward to meeting Kal again.


Good Girl Bad Girl has a cleverly woven plot, with what initially feels like three disparate storylines coming together perfectly. The psychological element was something I loved. It is clear that Ann knows a lot about psychology and Kal’s observations of and descriptions of the other characters add an extra layer to this book. The way Ann describes the nuances of how the emotions effected Kal physically really made me go through what Kal was going through.

An intelligently written, multi-layered psychological thriller, I really enjoyed Good Girl Bad Girl and look forward to reading the next Kal Medi book.

A huge thank you to Ann Girdharry and Authoright for the copy in exchange for a review and for inviting me to take part in the blog tour.

[catherine ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 2.5

*I receieved a free copy of this book through LibraryThing in exchange for a review.*

Good Girl Bad Girl follows the story of Kal.
Her mother is missing. Someone is following her.
Something is obviously going wrong - and it seems to connect to the death of her father from so many years ago.

Luckily, Kal is an expert in reading people, and she sets out to investigate. When she comes across a human trafficking network, she realizes that everything is much worse than it seems.

I thought this story was definitely complicated and well-thought out in terms of plot, but I wish the execution had been done better.

I think pacing was one of the main issues I had with the book. The story started out fast and engaging, but as it continued, I began to lose interest and reading became tedious, even boring. Parts seemed repetitive - the main character would find herself in some trouble while investigating, and then she would get out of it a few pages later.

While the writing style was solid, it wasn't extraordinary, and I think this may also be one of the reasons why I began to lose interest - the story started to seem a little monotonous.

There was also a kind of disconnect I felt for the characters; I didn't really "understand" who they were as people, and because of the kind of dangerous, out-of-the-ordinary situation everything was in, I felt more like I was reading a news article instead of living out the story.

I did really like the beginning of this book, and although I was a little disappointed that my interest began to dwindle and that the ending was predictable, I do give the author props for setting the stage well.

[Emma Smart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well what can I say about this book I received this book for an honest review and I always believe that if I'm doing a review it has to be honest and how I felt about the book.
I did enjoy the book and how determined kal was to find her mum no matter what happened to her. Even having to face up to some hard truths about her family she is determined to do what she can. But when she is faced with a hard task of choosing between her mum and innocent life's she knew she had made the right choice. But how was she going to do it without being seen and caught is difficult.
Even through dealing with all her personal stuff and then something terrible happens to her best friend she still pushes herself and gets the job done. But even though she's done what's needed to be done she feels guilty about her best friend being caught in the crossfire and it's all comes back to her father.
If I had to rate this book it would 4/5 for me even thou I did enjoy it I found that it didn't pick up for me till I was 50% through it and then I felt it did miss bits out at some point and I couldn't quite grasped one bit at one point. But I would recommend this to others as it a good book and would try some others by this author myself.

[Zoe · Rating 4 out of 5]

All my reviews can be found at www.whatsbetterthanbooks.com

Incredibly dark, disturbingly clever, and exceptionally creepy!

This is a spine-chilling thriller that transports you into a gritty world full of secrets, lies, corruption, malfeasance, sadism, torture, psychological manipulation, and deviant ideologies.

The prose is precise, original, and exceptionally detailed. The characters are dynamic and complex, especially the heroine, Kal, who is tenacious, brave, strong, yet vulnerable. And although the plot seems to get a little bogged down at the beginning of the story, it quickly turns into a faced-paced, edge-of-your-seat thrill ride that's hard to put down.

This is the first novel in the Kal Medi series, and I look forward to reading about all the suspense-filled drama she gets mixed up in next.

Thank you to Ann Girdharry, the author, for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Kath Middleton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kal’s mother has disappeared. She now realises she’s being followed. Her mother has left her a clue and it leads somewhere horrifying. She has her lifelong friend for support and their new martial arts teacher also proves a help. The people she’s investigating are at the tops of their professions and both she and the reader wonder if she’s up to the task.

This book began a little slowly as it set the scene and presented Kal’s backstory. When it takes off, and Kal follows her instinct and goes off to India to research the business of a man who appears to be a benefactor to humanity, her resolve is really tested. I enjoyed Kal’s inner strengths and the way she used them and that she came to an understanding of herself and her parents. She's a very gutsy protagonist. I also liked the fact that all ends were not tied up. There’s scope for more here and I really look forward to another episode with the spirited Kal. A very good read.

[Diane Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kal, a successful international photojournalist, returns home to find her missing mom, Mother and daughter relationships are complicated. As is the unseen bond between them. Kal is driven by guilt and love to search all parts of her moms life to find her. Mom is an internationally know journalist. Kal follows the trail of her moms latest project. It’s not pretty the things Kal uncovers. England to India and back again.
This book is full of suspenseful twists and turns. The characters are so well defined they become real people. Not just characters in a book. Kal s background is quite odd. This is a huge part of the plot. Along with finding Mom, Kal finds out who she really is.
Be ready to visit the worst depravity some are capable of.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kal Medi is a freelance photojournalist, used to placing herself in the most dangerous of situations to get that all important shot. When her mother, Alesha, an investigative journalist, calls her from London, asking Kal to return home to help her on an investigation, she thinks nothing of it, promising to return home soon. It is only when Kal receives a call from her mother’s best friend, telling her that Alesha has gone missing that Kal begins to understand that this investigation was not run of the mill, and a threatening note left in plain sight alerts Kal to the fact that her mother may be in serious danger. Because Kal has seen these notes before. Her mother, and her grandmother before her, had been receiving the notes for years, each time destroying the evidence and hiding the truth behind their existence, even from Kal.

Having been raised by a very unconventional father, a man who insisted that Kal learnt how to read others, how to hide her emotions and manipulate how others perceive her. Kal knows never to trust first impressions and is untrusting of nearly everyone, even Detective Inspector Spinks, who is sent to investigate her mother’s disappearance. Deciding she is better placed to investigate on her own, Kal turns to her best friend Marty for help before starting out on a journey of investigation which could put not only her life, but that of her family and friends in serious danger. Because the story her mother was working on involves some very high profile people from around the globe.

Finding the truth will take Kal from London to Kolkata, where she sees the testing facility for ground breaking and yet controversial medical technology, and cover for a world of depravity unlike anything she has seen before. Family secrets will be exposed, old wounds opened and Kal will finally discover the truth about her father’s reasons for schooling her in psychology when she was a child. Her nemesis tries everything to encourage her to stop her investigations, but Kal is determined. As she closes in on the truth, someone close to Kal may pay the very highest price for her refusing to let sleeping dogs lie.

‘Good Girl, Bad Girl’, is a very well crafted thriller. The opening seems almost pedestrian compared to the action that is to come, the first few chapters setting the scene of Alesha’s disappearance, and making it clear to the reader that Kal is something more than your average photographer, that she has highly tuned senses, a keen eye for detail, and certain amount of training in how to investigate a crime scene. This almost gives the reader a false impression of what it to come, that the scene, and the story, are both calm. And they are, but it is definitely the ‘calm before the storm.’

As Kal heads into her investigation, the pace, and the story, step up a gear. It is quickly evident that there a number of high profile people involved in the story, including her mother’s boss, and it is hard to know just who to trust as Kal meets all of the different players in this very twisted game. And twisted it is. The underlying story, the reason for her mother’s disappearance, is disturbing indeed. The novel touches on the periphery of a theme of sexual abuse, and while never specific in detail, it is most certainly implied, with a clear picture painted for the reader. I don’t think it is enough to act as a trigger for sensitive readers, but as your mind catches up with the level of depravity involved, it is certainly a very hard subject to think about.

Kal Medi is a very intriguing character. Skilled in Kung Fu from an early age, that, combined with her father’s schooling, make her a fiercely independent person. She does not know how to trust others, or to ask for help, even from her friends. She hates feeling out of control and hates when emotions get the better of her. She is strong, intuitive, and, while not easy to like as her lack of trust spills onto the page, you do warm to her, her fierce defence of family and friends, and her sense of justice, all very endearing qualities. You want her to succeed, want her to find her mother and want her to defeat the bad guys. You’ll have to read for yourself to see if she does.

The supporting characters, best friend Marty, Kal’s spirited, yet sadly dementia afflicted, grandmother, Nannie, new friend LeeMing and even Detective Inspector Spinks, are all interesting characters in their own right. I loved Marty’s fire, complimentary to Kal’s fighting spirit and yet the ying to LeeMing’s cautionary yang. Nannie is also a great character, full of pep on her lucid days and yet haunted by the truth of the family’s past. With the charmingly sinister adversary to boot, Ann Girdharry has created a very rounded list of protagonists and antagonists, creating a good balance of tension and pace in the novel. Setting is another strength, particularly as she takes the reader from the familiar sights and sounds of London and into the streets of Kolkata, giving a clear view of both the country and the plight of the street children. The neglected. The forgotten.

While by the end of the novel, the story in itself is resolved, it does leave a few threads hanging, allowing the reader to anticipate the next instalment. Kal Medi is a character with a lot of potential and a lot of fire. I am intrigued to see where Ann Girdharry takes her next.

A very promising, suspensfully dark 4 stars.

My thanks to Ann Girdharry for the copy of Good Girl, Bad Girl in exchange for this review.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given this book by the author for a review. I will admit I found it slow at first. Didn't think it was going to get going at all. But was I ever wrong. This was a really good book. very good suspense book. I liked all the characters and especially the main character, Kal. if you like a good thriller, suspense book, then this is a good one.Im not going to go into details about the book cause I don't want to spoil it. The end is sort of a cliffhanger , so another book must be in the making. many thanks to Ann Girdharry for allowing me the chance to review it. and way to go. its a good book. I hope u have great reviews and results with it.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Story pulled me in early. Love the pace of the book. Very interesting characters. Nothing ordinary about this story. Could not put down.

[Denise · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Complimentary copy provided by author/publisher for an honest review**

'Good Girl Bad Girl' was such a great read. The storyline was intense. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. The way the story played out filled me with a lot of emotions- happiness, sadness, fear, anger, hope and repulsion. The characters were a great cast of personalities. Kal was a total bad-ass. Even with all the crap she went through as the story unfolded, she still stayed strong and overcame her biggest obstacle. Marty was also a kick-ass woman. She was full of surprises. Lee had a few surprises himself. I loved how the story came together with Kat's past and present. It almost seemed to come full circle when you factor in her dad, Khan. I hope there is a second book, even a novella would do. I have to know what the end results are. I was left with wanting more and had questions regarding some of the characters. A great add to your tbr
It's. Recommended read.

[Fiona (Titch) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author for writing this brilliant psychological thriller series. I've read Ann Girdharry's books before and found her mind to be so dark lol.

Kal Medi is a woman on a mission to find her mother. Detective Inspector Spinks is a man who will stop at nothing to find Kal's mother and find out what Kal is hiding. What has her grandmother and the family secrets got to do with her mother's disappearance and can Kal and Detective Inspector Spinks work together to find her mother and what has Kal's father got to do with this?

All will be revealed when you delve into this psychological thriller of a novel.

[Susan McHale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was fortunate enough to receive a complimentary copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only and am so glad that I did. This is just my kind of read, not necessarily the subject matter, but the pace of writing and the tension building. I wanted to keep turning the pages to see how the story progressed and rooting for the successful conclusion. I can thoroughly recommend this as a good read and look forward to more from this author

[Sue Wallace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good girl bad girl by Ann Girdharry.
Kals mother has disappeared and Kals investigates with a few friends.
A very good read. full of twists. really had me thinking. gripping read. 5*. Highly recommended. Tbc on fb.

[Lou · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twisting, turning mystery which kept me engaged through the book. Kal Medi is an interesting woman who remains steadfast to her convictions whilst trying to find her missing mother and becoming involved in her mother’s secret work. The ending is unexpected but fitting to the end of Kal’s journey and the start of her brand new life. The book was offered by Voracious Readers Only.

[Louise Dubord · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from Voracious Readers Only in exchange for an honest review. This is a great thriller, a real page-turner. I thoroughly enjoyed it and I am looking forward to the next installment in the adventures of Kal Medhi.

[Freda Mans-Labianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a ride!
I feel like the book took me places, literally and figuratively. We ventured from London to India and back and forth again and again, but also the two story lines that not only went together, but complimented each other, took the reader on a thrilling journey of lies, murder and mystery.
I feel like I need to read London Noir, the next book in the series. I just have a feeling it will be fast-paced and gripping much like this one.
A great read! Too bad it took me so long to read it!

3.5/5

[Julianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. Writer keeped me wondering what would happen next.

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fabulous read. Gripped you right from the first chapter.
The characters were intriguing and you just had
The keep turning the pages to see what was going to happen next.
Will most definitely be reading more from Ann Gridharry.

[Preeti Chauhan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel opens with the sudden disappearance of Alesha, a globetrotting journalist.Her Feisty photo journalist daughter Kal Medi sensing something very wrong ,sets out to find her mother and in her dangerous single headed pursuit, aided by her best friends, comes face to face with some stomach turning truths and a sinister nexus.

Kal Medi has been compared to Lisbeth Salamander of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” but I think Salamander was more emotionally vulnerable and dark.

From the first chapter itself the book has an edgy quality, keeping you on tenterhooks and anxious to get on to the next page, in fact sometimes the waiting would actually get too tortuous and I think it is done on purpose as the author wants you to feel the same tension that Kal is going through.But as Kal says in the Chapter 2 of this book, “frustration gives me indigestion …”.
Well I suffered along with the characters in teeth biting suspense of what next!
The novel also has a sub plot of self-discovery where Kal tries to settle her own internal demons and make peace with her past.

I look forward to the next adventure of Kal Medi ,DI Spinks and her best friend Marty .

[Amanda Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling! Kept me reading all through the night and the next day. The suspense will eat you alive!!

[Jane A Luchford · Rating 4 out of 5]

I did enjoy Good Girl Bad Girl, there were many different and varied strands of the story to follow.
I found the inclusion of different ethnicities interesting and would like to see this developed as the characters and their backgrounds helped me to empathise with the individuals and to understand their motivations.
The main plot is disturbing and gives rise to thoughts of what really happens behind the glossy facades of large, powerful corporations.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been reading a lot of Contemporary Romance novels lately, but I do like to mix it up a little. So when I received an invitation for the blog tour of ‘Good Girl Bad Girl’ I was excited to start reading. Although the cover didn’t really work for me, this book sounded very interesting and I definitely wanted to start reading as fast as I could.

‘Good Girl Bad Girl’ is the story of Kal. Kal is a photojournalist who is used to getting into dangerous situations to get to the best story. But when Kal’s mother suddenly disappears, Kal soon finds herself in an even more dangerous situation. Kal is determined to find her mother, and she soon does some discoveries that will change her life forever.

The first view chapters of ‘Good Girl Bad Girl’ started a little slow. The author really took the time to introduce the characters and the setting. But this wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. The writing was good enough to keep me hooked to the pages and make me forget about the slow start. Above all the writing just made me want to know what happened to Kal’s mother, and I really wanted to know more about the secrets in Kal’s family.

I really enjoyed reading about the main character Kal. Kal was a very strong character, and I was very interested in finding out more about her. Kal was definitely different than most characters I read abou. Kal has been trained in understanding the human psychology and this made for some very interesting chapters.
What I didn’t really like about this read was the ending. I found it very frustrating how much questions I still had after reading this book. But on the other hand this also makes me want to read more from Ann, so.. very smart. ;)

‘Good Girl Bad Girl’ is a very thrilling and interesting read that’s perfect for fans of thriller and mystery novels.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark suspenseful thriller that keeps you on the edge of you seat all the way through

[Mia Elbaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start my review by praising the author on her beautiful writing. Despite the slow pace of the story in the beginning, the writing was the driving force to continue reading. At some point in the first quarter of the book, I started loosing interest in the story; but as the chapter unfolded, the storyline gets intense leaving you wanting more to know.
The story could be best summarized as follow. It centers on our main character Kal embarking on a journey of dark secrets discovery when her mother goes missing. A dark past threatening Kal over the years could be the leading cause for the sudden disappearance of Kal's mom. I don't want to spoil anything related to the events in the story or the secrets unfolded because those details were the reasons I enjoyed the book.
On a different note, I didn't like the way the book ended. I don't know if it was meant to be a cliffhanger introducing the fact a second book will be released in the future. Personally, I would have prefered a fine straightforward ending.
Last but not least, if you're a fan of thriller and mystery genre, then good girl bad girl is the book for you. Recommended

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for review.

I didn't like this book, but I didn't hate it either.

I didn't really connect with the characters, and I didn't really get into the book until probably half way through. Saying that I wanted to know what Kal s father had done and what Kal would find out. Whether her missing mother would turn up. However there wasn't much depth to the story and I d like to have had more information and less waffle. I d have liked to have connected with Marty too, the best friend who's sticks buy her though thick and thin.

The ending was a big disappointment. It just ended..... Lots of unanswered questions.

This was an interesting read, the topic interested me.... And wanting to know who had been stalking the family for years and how it was going to end, good or bad. Whether these nasty people would actually get away with doing what they do. That's what kept me reading.

[Josie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It was very dark, well thought out with a great storyline. Kal is a great female protagonist, she's strong and competent but still human, she has faults and doubts. She goes to extreme lengths to protect those around her and doesn't loose her head over a guy which makes a nice change honestly. Can't wait to read the next in the series! Thanks to Ann Girdharry and VRO for my copy of this book.