Reviews

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 Fille Perdue: A Neil Baggio Series (Marie Perdita Book 1) by Charles D'Amico is a gorgeous entry into a series that has fascinated fans of Neil Baggio. This time, the story follows Maria Perdita, a woman who has seen and done a lot, and who still needs to get out of the dark pit she has put herself into. Amongst the many things she has done are killing an FBI agent and getting engulfed in a case as a witness for a crime boss that friends want to see put away for a long time. Erin Beddington changed her name to Maria in the hope of shredding the mistakes of her past life and making a new start. Maria is out to take down Gaines and dismantle his hold on New Orleans. She is up against a powerful force and will have to rely on her wits and instincts while infiltrating the drug dealers that Jason Gaines works with. Can she do things right this time? 

 Charles D'Amico’s work has provided a lot of entertainment to fans and I have read several entries in the Neil Baggio series. Every time, there is so much to look forward to — the well-written characters who find themselves in tight and dangerous situations, a protagonist that is up against a powerful enemy, mystery and crime, great prose, and deft plot twists. The characters are memorable, especially Maria and Christian. Charles D'Amico has the gift of writing intriguing details into the story and it is fascinating how the author brings the world of the characters to life, exploring relationships and depicting the effects of their past actions on their present predicaments. Fille Perdue: A Neil Baggio Series explores the inner world of a compelling female protagonist who struggles to make things right and rediscover her foothold. She is portrayed as both strong and vulnerable, and as I followed her, I became so enmeshed in her story that I cared about her getting things right. 

 Author Charles D’Amico has not only created a great detective in Neil Baggio but has realized an authentic and interconnected world of crimes, deceptions, and detective work through the creation of his novels. This Marie-centric tale and series prove that, taking the classic suspense of the Baggio thrills and transposing it into a heightened, emotive and realistic case for our female protagonist to really shine in. As a fan of the other books in this world of mystery, crime, and intrigue, I was immediately pulled into yet more expansion on the Gaines storyline, and the novel’s plot twists, amazing reveals, and dynamic dialogue didn’t let me go for a second. A truly immersive work and a testament to the strength of all its characters. I would highly recommend Fille Perdue not just to fans of the existing series, but to anyone seeking a strong female lead in the crime and suspense genres. 

 I love Neil Baggio novels and I am so pleased he made a brief and memorable appearance in Fille Perdue by Charles D'Amico. The use of the first-person narrative by Marie was great because it gave a great insight into her thoughts and emotions. I enjoyed seeing her relationship develop with Christian; they made a great professional partnership. Marie's past experiences made her quite flawed and therefore so much more believable as a character. The scene between Marie and Agent Garcia was extremely emotional to read. I found Suzie Gaines a great literary villain, cold-hearted and ruthless, and this was shown in her treatment of Garcia perfectly. The most emotional scene for me was when she met Neil Baggio and his reaction to the death of Garcia. Be prepared for unexpected twists and turns through the plot which will keep you completely gripped. There are many strong sub-plots such as the kidnapping of the girl and the frightening corruption in policing and politics, which tie in perfectly with Marie's undercover operation. The ending provides yet another brilliant plot twist. A fantastic thriller and a definite must-read. 

 Charles D’Amico writes from the standpoint of Marie Perdita in a way that helps the reader to understand the character. She explains her feelings, emotions, and actions of the past and how that has had an influence on the present. It's written in a way that drives the reader to want more information about the things she did as a child and how her father’s training made her the person she is today - the book gives lots of information in that regard. This is a fast-paced plot with lots of twists and turns that keep you guessing as to who is telling the truth and who is lying and who is not on the right side of the law. This story is tied into another novel called Requiem (also by Charles D'Amico) and gives you enough information about how the characters interlink. However, you don’t have to read Requiem to see how it all fits together. Overall, Fille Perdue is a good read, and the end leaves it open for a follow-on which will hopefully arrive soon. 

 Fille Perdue: A Marie Perdita Suspense is yet another engrossing entry in Charles D'Amico's series of thrillers. D'Amico's writing is only getting better with each book. The plot and the atmosphere that the narrative generates feel like something straight out of Mami Vice. The characters and the dialogue are colorful as usual, with most of the screentime reserved for the protagonist, Marie. The plot moves at a brisk pace, and the twists keep on coming, especially towards the last third of the book. My favorite parts were when Marie reminisces about her childhood and how her father's training helped her to become who she is today. I wish the ending was a bit more clear cut, but I still enjoyed the book. I think fans of thrillers will enjoy this one.