Title: Good Girl, Bad Girl
Author: Ann Girdharry
Social Media: Twitter @GirdharryAnn
Author Website: www.girdharry.com
Series: Kal Medi, #1
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Publication date: 23rd August
Publisher: Create Space and Kindle Direct
Pages: 344
Format: Available in ebook and paperback
About Good Girl, Bad Girl
Mother missing, the discovery of a powerful and corrupt syndicate and dark secrets about her father revealed leaves 28-year old Kal determined to pursue her own investigations, no matter what sinister truths she uncovers, in this intense psychological thriller.
Kal is convinced her investigative journalist mother must have been working on a controversial, and top level, news story, it is the only explanation for her sudden and suspicious disappearance. Although mistrustful of the police, Kal allows Detective Inspector Spinks, the officer assigned to her mother’s case, to accompany her when she visits her grandmother to break the news. What they don’t expect is to uncover a file of shocking research cataloguing the deviant activities of seven members of London’s political and business elite. Back on the streets of London, the survival instincts and specialist expertise she learned from her late father, kick into overdrive, as Kal resolves to not only find her mother but continue her work and unveil the conspiracy hidden amongst those in power.
A Character Profile From Good Girl, Bad Girl
Marty
Marty went to school with Kal (which makes them the same age), she trained in kung fu alongside Kal, she works at Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Association on security, or as she describes it, ‘detection of bugs and bombs’
Background
I’d say that Marty is the second most important person in the story because without Marty’s support, Kal wouldn’t have the strength to continue. I think that without Marty, Kal would collapse part way through the investigation. Marty is stronger in many ways than Kal – she’s less brittle, she can take the knocks and doesn’t take it personally, she keeps a wider perspective and she’s a team player.
Her Temperament
One thing to know about Marty is that she isn’t as open-eyed as Kal is to the dark side of life. Although Marty’s father was a criminal, Marty has long since rejected her father and she lives by her own values. Marty’s moral and ethical values are important to her. She wants to stick by them. She also wants to stick by her friend and make sure that Kal doesn’t keep going off on her own into danger. This will be a difficult task for Marty to accomplish. She knows what Kal is like and how volatile she can be.
LeeMing remarks that Marty is protective of Kal and he’s right. Marty can handle herself but she will underestimate what they are up against. It will get her into serious trouble. If she’d have known this at the beginning, I think Marty would still have joined with Kal to investigate. She wouldn’t have hesitated because part of her likes adventure and because Kal is her best friend, and because she’s known fear in her own childhood (from her father’s violence towards her mother) and she’ll do all she can to save children at risk.
A bit more detail
I like writing strong female characters and Marty is definitely one of those. I can picture her so well in my mind – I like how she laughs, I like her sense of humour, I like how she keeps Kal in line and I like that she’s got the guts to confront Kal about the truth of the past.
Actually, the character of Marty kind of wrote itself. In the past, I’ve met plenty of young women who are like Marty and who are interacting with their friends in exactly the way I imagine Marty would do. I enjoyed it too that Marty is making a success in her profession. Though she’s young, she’s not a student anymore. She’s a working woman making her way and she’s got a team which includes men and women older than she is. It’s a tiny detail, not key to the story at all, but, for Marty, that’s a personal challenge, that’s something she’s set her mind to.
Final Comments
In the story, is Marty jealous of LeeMing and the fact that Kal is attracted to him? Though she says she isn’t jealous, I think she definitely is. She’s only saved from expressing it by the fact that Kal won’t let LeeMing get close.
About Ann Girdharry
Born and educated in the UK, Ann Girdharry is a trained psychotherapist and has worked as a manager in the not-for-profit sector for many years for agencies working with: carers, vulnerable older people and those with dementia, survivors of abuse, and victims of racism and racial attacks. Today she lives in Montpellier, France with her husband and two children.
As well as her passion for writing, Ann enjoys gardening and is a member of her local roller-blading club. Ann has previously published a series of short stories called Tales of the Unexpected (2015-2016). Her debut novel, and the first in the Kal Medi series, Good Girl Bad Girl by Ann Girdharry (published by CreateSpace and Kindle Direct Publishing 23rd August 2016 RRP £8.99 paperback, £3.99 ebook) is available to purchase from online retailers including amazon.co.uk and to order from all good bookstores.
