There is a serial killer on the loose. Three victims in just two weeks. All of them shot with military precision. Detective Emilia Hart, a strong female protagonist, is the lead detective after witnessing the first murder literally happen in front of her.

At first the police are baffled at the randomness of the victims, but then a group calling themselves the ‘Daughters of Eve’ take credit for the murders, and the link is established.

All the victims are male predators who have abused women in some form. Hart realises they are dealing with a group of vigilantes taking justice into their own hands. As the bodies start to pile up, and a misogynistic male group surfaces, the police fear they may have lost control of not just the case, but the city.

Dark themes are explored, and Campbell addresses the interminable societal problems that never seem to leave the headlines: rape, child exploitation, domestic abuse and toxic masculinity. Campbell uses Hart’s two adopted daughters, who she rescued from the streets, to personalise and metaphorically represent these dark topics. Both, along with Hart, are scarred and healing.

Campbell also uses fiction to expose a system that continually fails victims of these crimes. A system in need of change. A holistic approach is required.

Rehabilitation, education, behavioural and attitude changes. It would be naive to believe that there is an easy fix. But for the sake of the victims, change must take place.

Just as Jess Hill used non-fiction with her amazing See What You Made Me Do to raise awareness on these issues, Campbell uses fiction as a powerful tool for change.

A great debut crime novel with an important message.

Reviewed by Neale Lucas