The first thing to say about Terri Blackstock's If I Live is that if you haven't read books one and two of her "If I Run" series, read those first. Jumping into If I Live without having read If I Run and If I'm Found is like starting a movie in the middle. Eventually you'll figure out what's going on, but at first you'll be totally lost.
If you have read the first two books, you will be pleased to see the pieces coming together. Casey Cox is on the run, suspect number one for her friend's murder. What she knows, and hasn't been able to figure out how to reveal, is that her friend was killed by the same dirty cops who murdered her father a decade ago.
Changing her identity and moving around is only practical if she's not recognized. Even though she's in another state altogether and taking great pains to keep her identity hidden, with her face all over the news, someone inevitably turns her in. She is in a race against time to expose the corruption in the police department while avoiding the deadly fate of the corrupt cops' other victims.
Blackstock's pacing is breakneck; you won't be able to turn the pages fast enough. Much of the plot and action are formulaic, especially if you're an avid reader of this type of fiction or viewer of police-themed TV dramas. But that doesn't change the fact that Blackstock writes the genre well. I enjoyed the way she brought in the faith element, with Casey ultimately becoming a Christian. It's also nice to read an action-packed, gritty story that does not succumb to the use of profanity and sexual material.
This series is great for fans of gripping, fast-paced fiction, especially if you don't mind staying up most of the night (because you won't want to put it down).
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
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