Three Reasons for Revenge

 

Three Reasons for Revenge by Dervla McTiernan
7/21/26; 336 pages
William Morrow 

Three Reasons for Revenge by Dervla McTiernan is a very highly recommended psychological thriller/mystery. This one will interest you in the beginning and then totally grab your complete attention. 

After opening with a scene of two young sisters, Margaux and Renee, on a beach, the narrative then jumps to Alexis Turner who was assaulted by psychologist Robert Walker at a therapy session. Alexis reports the crime to Detective Sergeant Judith Lee, who immediately recalled a similar complaint a decade earlier. Soon after Judith interviewed Robert, Vanessa Walker, a news anchor and wife to Robert, receives an anonymous gift containing a video of Robert assaulting another woman in his office. The video is also released online and will ruin lives. 

The video is the first of three identically wrapped gifts hand delivered to three different people with cryptic notes included. The next destructive gift is sent to Jack Miller, a single father to 10 year-old Cameron, and the third to Elsa Anderson, a wealthy entrepreneur, mother of two daughters, and Jack's friend. Each of the gifts are destructive and contain a cryptic note. Anonymous phone tips are also being left. Clearly something is connecting these very disparate individuals. Judith surmises it may go back to Alexis. The only problem is "Alexis" disappeared after reporting Walker to Judith.

The well-written, intricate novel is presented in four parts along with an epilogue. The first part opens strong, is intriguing and will capture your attention, signaling it will be a good mystery/procedural, however, the start of Part Two is where you will become completely shocked, immersed, and invested in the plot, unable to read fast enough. This is where the real complex psychological thriller takes hold and the guessing games begin as to what exactly is going on and why. The direction it takes is foreshadowed, but unexpected. The perpetrator behind the destructive acts is clearly dangerous, deranged, and intelligent.

Judith Lee is a fully realized, complex, insightful character portrayed with both strengths and weaknesses. When the novel opens she is also dealing with corruption inside the department which leaves a huge target on her back. She's an intelligent perceptive investigator and it would be interesting to see her in another investigation. Detective Senior Sergeant Rockie Jansen has her back, but he's also being lead astray by the mysterious malefactor behind the anonymous tips and packages who is extracting their own revenge. Actually, all the characters are well developed and are portrayed as unique individuals in the narrative. 

The compelling plot held my complete attention as the sense of urgency and danger increases throughout the novel. The person behind the nefarious manipulation and gifts obviously has intimate knowledge of their targets. They know all their vulnerabilities and have planned out exactly how to hurt each victim. This makes it even more chilling as the connection is hidden to most. DS Judith Lee is the only one making the connections, but her knowledge of the complete picture is tenuous at best and she must use all of her abilities and intelligence right up to the end.

Three Reasons for Revenge is an excellent choice for those who enjoy psychological thrillers/mysteries with strong female protagonists. Thanks to William Morrow for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.