Tell Me by Lisa Jackson is the third in the Savannah series and the second featuring Nikki Gillette. Nikki is a reporter for the local Sentinal newspaper in Savannah, Georgia and is anxious to get the scoop on the breaking news regarding Blondell O'Henry. Blondell was convicted of killing her eldest daughter Amity who was once Nikki's best friend. Nikki is also personally linked to this case since her uncle Alexander, who is now battling dementia, represented Blondell and saved her from being executed. The reason for the new surge in interest regarding the state's most hated woman is the fact that her son Niall is recanting the story he told as a child that helped convict her. Nikki is hoping her link to the past and renewed interest in the Blondell case will help her with a true crime novel she wishes to peddle to the masses some day.
The other thing that's very convenient about Nikki plopping her self smack dab in the middle of a case that virtually has nothing to do with her is that her fiance Det. Pierce Reed is now investigating the case and trying to piece together what really happened that night. Oh! We musn't forget that there seems to be a deranged psycho who's after Nikki... again. The killer is using a snake bite, which was also done during the Blondell killing spree. And it appears he's hot on Nikki's trail for some reason. All these instances I can overlook for a great story. Lisa Jackson tells great stories.
There is so much mystery and intrigue in this novel. The ending was not something I could foresee or the many different stones uncovered during Nikki's investigation. I do caution future readers that at times I felt that if I'd read the predecessor novel The Morning After, maybe some of the characters would have been a bit more worth being interested in, but for the most part, they all seemed paper thin. This is one of the drawbacks of not starting a series at the beginning. Besides the many secondary characters who didn't matter, I thought Nikki was a well developed leading lady. Her history is given with great detail and explains the fears she has and much of the guilt she harbors.
If you're looking for a good, swift-paced read Lisa Jackson's Tell Me is the way to go. Jackson is no newbie on the scene so I expect her fans and lovers of Tami Hoag, Iris Johanson, and Beverly Barton to really enjoy this latest novel. I do advise reading The Morning After to get acquainted with some of these characters a lot better.***
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