Turns out the real villain in The Pawn isn’t the killer.
It’s the editor.
Clara Strong had me in her corner from page one. She’s a mess, sure; alcohol is a freight train that keeps trying to derail her life. But she fights it with grit, stubbornness, and the occasional bad decision. That’s the kind of protagonist I like: Complicated, vulnerable, and brave.
However, we need to talk about "Alabama". I chose this book for my 50 states challenge, but this "Alabama" doesn’t exist. It could have been set in Any Northern Small Town, USA. The conversations weren’t Southern, the voices weren’t regional, and if it weren’t for an alligator or two, you’d have no clue you were south of the Mason-Dixon. I’d bet my next sweet tea that the author has never spent more than a weekend in the South, if that.
The good news is that the twists and turns worked. Bailey threw suspicion on everyone, including a deputy at one point, and kept me flipping pages. The story built slowly but steadily until I couldn't put it down. Clara’s personal baggage also kept things interesting, especially her history with the town and her brother’s disappearance, which stoked both her drinking battles and her investigative fire.
The not-so-good news in my humble opinion is the supporting cast leaned a little too cookie-cutter, and the dialogue didn’t ring true. Add in the grammar stumbles, punctuation slips, and the word “inevitable” showing up like a drinking game gone wrong, and, well… let’s just say Bailey’s editor should’ve been the first suspect arrested. I think it would have felt less cookie-cutter if the dialogue was right, but I'll have to wait for the next book to see.
The think is this is a debut novel, and for a debut, it’s very good. Clara Strong has the makings of a great series character, and I’m looking forward to her next case. But please, Ms. Bailey, fire your editor before book two. Clara deserves better.
