Stolen Souls

Set in Belfast, a young woman from Lithuania named Gayla is coerced into coming to Ireland for a chance at a better life. Instead of going to become a nanny she is sold into a home for prostitution. When the people running the home try to force her into a sex act she resists and when one of the men tries to rape her, she kills him in self defense. Two other men were in the house at the time. They fear the dead man's older brother who has a terrible temper. They attempt to dump the body into a waterway and kill Gayla there. However, she is resourceful and escapes. The deceased had an elder brother named Arturas Stazdas. He wants the woman killed in revenge and anyone else who contributed to his killing. Meanwhile, a man named Billy Crawford had befriended Gayla, posing as a client. He tells her that if she can escape from her situation, he'd help. Gayla kept his number and calls him. He takes her to his home, telling her he's a Baptist minister without a church. He also tells her he tries to save girls like her, who haven't lost their souls. Investigating the case is Det. Inspector Jack Lennon. Soon after accepting the case, he learns that there have been more murders. The author writes in a style reminiscent of fellow Irishman, John Connolly. In Connolly's novel "Evey Dead Thing," revenge is at the center of the novel as the protagonist looks for the person who killed his daughter. So is revenge central to the story here. Neville uses description well and when things continue to go wrong for Gayla, it is easy for us to put ourselves in her shoes, wondering if anyone would help her. Not for the squeamish, this is a story that is so suspenseful that the reader needs an occasional break to catch their breath. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the novel and feel it places Neville in the category of master story teller.

Great story teller. Looking forward to his future stuff.

Excellent book, gripping storyline.