Title: Nothing Can Hurt You Now

Author: Simone Campos

Genre: Thriller

Publisher: Pushkin

Publication Date: 2nd February 2023

Rating: 4/5

Cover:

Summary:

Lucinda has lived her whole life in the shadow of her glamorous and outgoing high-end model sister Viviana. But when Viviana suddenly disappears on a trip to São Paulo, Lucinda drops everything to track her down. Met with indifference from the police, Lucinda joins forces with Viviana’s girlfriend Graziane to launch her own investigation. When she discovers that her sister had a thriving career as a sex worker, the list of possible suspects widens. Then a cryptic text suggests that Viviana is still alive but being held hostage. With the minutes ticking by, Lucinda and Graziane must track down the men from Viviana’s past to discover who might want to do her harm. A furiously contemporary and vibrant thriller that crackles with danger.

Review:

Nothing Can Hurt You Now is a relatively short novel but don’t let that fool you – this thriller packs a powerful emotional punch. Following the story of two sisters Lucinda and Viviana in Brazil. When Viviana, a sex worker, goes missing on a short trip to São Paulo, Lucinda joins forces with Graziane, her sister’s girlfriend, to track her down. As Lucinda follows her sister’s trail, she begins to realise there’s a lot she doesn’t know about Viviana’s life.

I very much enjoyed this incisive, dark and subversive thriller that felt really quite refreshingly unusual from any other thriller I’ve read recently. The story is pacy and compelling – but more powerful and intriguing is the revealing and biting narrative on the way women are perceived and the dangerous complexities of what beauty and femininity mean in modern society. I found Viviana’s sections particularly strong and authentic feeling but all three of the female voices in Nothing Can Hurt You Now have their own individual power. Tense, raw and unapologetic – I’d highly recommend this to anyone looking for a slightly unconventional thriller.

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I kindly received a copy of the book from the publisher. My review is entirely my own honest opinion.

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