REVIEW | Every Breath by Ellie Marney

Every Breath by Ellie Marney
October 14, 2014
Tundra Books
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*ARC courtesy of Netgalley

When James Mycroft drags Rachel Watts off on a night mission to the Melbourne Zoo, the last thing she expects to find is the mutilated body of Homeless Dave, one of Mycroft’s numerous eccentric friends. But Mycroft’s passion for forensics leads him to realize that something about the scene isn’t right–and he wants Watts to help him investigate the murder.

While Watts battles her attraction to bad-boy Mycroft, he’s busy getting himself expelled and clashing with the police, becoming murder suspect number one. When Watts and Mycroft unknowingly reveal too much to the cold-blooded killer, they find themselves in the lion’s den–literally. A trip to the zoo will never have quite the same meaning to Rachel Watts again…

First sentence: “Here I am in the photo from seven years ago—a ten-year-old rural in a blue dress.”

“Damnit, Nikki.” (This is something I say a lot to her.)

Mycroft? Watts? The names sound familiar, don’t they? If your first thought is to Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, ding ding ding. Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of Sherlock Holmes like many people I know, but I appreciate the classic stories and tropes that come from it. And bless, Nikki. She has some kind of magical book pushing power that always convinces me to pick up a book I know I shouldn’t because of my ever-growing TBR list. I couldn’t resist.

Every Breath follows James Mycroft, a British teenager living in Melbourne who is sort of a bad boy genius/boy next door with a huge interest in forensics, and Rachel Watts, a country girl who moved to the city and isn’t very excited about it. They embark on a murder investigation of a homeless man, and along the way, they deal with personal issues that may or may not hinder them.

Oh boy, you guys. You’re in for a treat.

Why You Should Read Every Breath 

• The murder mystery will keep you turning the pages for more.

THE INVESTIGATION WAS EVERYTHING I EVER HOPED FOR. TWISTS AND TURNS, AND OH MY GOD AND OH SHIT MOMENTS.

Mycroft and Watts find the dead body of their friend, Homeless Dave, who had been murdered at the zoo. Who did it? Why would somebody kill somebody so harmless? Where is Poodle? Questions arise—questions that the police don’t seem to be too concerned about. Mycroft and Watts decide to solve this murder; they examine the body through pictures, theorize why Dave was a target, ask around, and use their knowledge of science and forensics. I believed every moment of their investigation—it felt like something any person would do if they were trying to solve their friend’s murder. I didn’t step back and think, “wait, this doesn’t make sense,” because it did to me. And guys, the details of the murder made me cringed because it felt soo real, as if I was staring at it myself. I just love where the investigation led to. Eeeek.

(Though, I did predict who the culprit was. I wasn’t bothered that I knew because I didn’t know what their motives were.)

• Mycroft and Watts make an awesome team. Obviously.

They’re good friends in the relatively short time they’ve known each other. Watts is someone Mycroft needs in his life, and vice versa. They both carry hurt of the past, and I love seeing them attempt to overcome it, despite their blow ups at each other. They are incredibly supportive. Watts takes care of Mycroft even when he’s being an ass, and Mycroft provides a sort of escape for Watts. They both have things they offer in their friendship, and they take no shit from each other. They are just better together.

• The chemistry between Mycroft and Watt = off the charts.

If you’re a fan of the Sherlock/Watson romantic pairing, look no further! Their chemistry is so insane. Like off the charts. From their first scenes together, I could already feel the chemistry wafting off of them. I thought, YOU GUYS WILL MAKE OUT AND LIKE IT. STOP KIDDING YOURSELF. LET’S GET IT OVER WITH. PUT YOUR FACES TOGETHER ASAP. And this is coming from someone who doesn’t particularly care about this pairing. Their actions and their dialogue—How can I not feel that chemistry?

• Every Breath is written by an Australian author! And it takes place in Melbourne!

How many books have you read that’s written by an Australian author? I think just one for me, and I’m sure you can guess who—Melina Marchetta. What about books that are set in Melbourne? I don’t think I’ve read too many books set there. I appreciate getting a taste of Melbourne, and I want more!

Every Breath isn’t a retelling or recreation of the Holmes/Watson stories; it uses tropes that you often find in the stories and creates this beautiful character development and plot goodness. Anybody who loves (or likes) the Sherlock Holmes tropes or mysteries in general should read this. Well, everybody should read this, or Nikki will probably shout at you. You don’t want to be on her bad side. ;)