Eeny Meeny by M. J. Arlidge

First Impressions

“Eeny, meeny, miny, moe…” Most of us grew up hearing this familiar nursery rhyme, but M. J. Arlidge transforms those innocent words into something genuinely unsettling. Eeny Meeny is the first novel in the long-running Helen Grace series, introducing readers to Detective Inspector Helen Grace, who is still finding her place while investigating a case built around impossible moral choices. Romanian readers may recognise the novel under the title Ghici cine moare primul, published by Editura Trei.

The investigation immediately caught my attention, and I found the central premise genuinely intriguing. However, despite enjoying the story, I never felt completely immersed in it. The atmosphere was engaging, but it never quite reached that point where I forgot everything around me and simply lived inside the novel. Combined with the very short chapters—which are clearly a stylistic choice but not one that perfectly matches my reading preferences—I found myself appreciating the book more than truly connecting with it.

I listened to Eeny Meeny as an audiobook, and somewhere during the final part of the novel I had the feeling I had missed an important detail. That may simply have been a moment of lost concentration on my part rather than a flaw in the story itself, but it left me curious to revisit the novel in print. I have a feeling I’d appreciate some of the finer details even more in a physical copy.

Despite giving Eeny Meeny 3 BookFairies, I’m genuinely looking forward to continuing the Helen Grace series. Sometimes a first novel doesn’t have to be perfect—it simply needs to make you curious enough to pick up the next book. For me, this one definitely achieved that.

What I Loved

One of the things I appreciated most about Eeny Meeny was Helen Grace herself. She’s not introduced as the brilliant detective who always knows exactly what to do. Instead, she feels like someone who is still growing into the role. Throughout the investigation, I had the impression that she was discovering the kind of detective—and leader—she wanted to become. That made her feel believable. Characters who already have every answer rarely surprise me, but Helen’s uncertainty and determination made me genuinely curious to see how she will develop throughout the series.

I also enjoyed the central premise of the novel. The investigation is built around an unsettling psychological concept that immediately raises difficult moral questions. Rather than relying solely on violence or shock value, the story explores what ordinary people might do when faced with impossible choices. It’s an idea that stayed with me long after I finished listening.

Knowing that this is only the beginning of a series that now includes more than fourteen books also made me more forgiving of the slower character development. The first book in any long-running series has the difficult task of introducing a new protagonist, a supporting cast and a world that readers will hopefully want to revisit. I think Eeny Meeny succeeds in doing exactly that, leaving me curious to see where Helen Grace’s journey goes next.

What Didn’t Quite Work for Me

My biggest issue wasn’t the story itself—it was the pacing created by the chapter structure.

The chapters are extremely short, and there are a lot of them. I know this is a deliberate choice and one that many thriller readers absolutely love because it creates the feeling of “just one more chapter.” Personally, though, I prefer longer chapters that allow me to settle into the story, spend more time with the characters and fully absorb each scene before moving on.

Because the perspective changed so frequently, I never felt completely immersed in the novel. The atmosphere was enjoyable, but I never reached that wonderful point where the outside world simply disappeared while I was reading. That’s a very personal preference rather than a criticism of the writing, but it had a significant impact on my overall reading experience.

Listening to the audiobook also contributed to that feeling. Towards the end of the novel, I had the impression that I had missed an important detail. That was probably a lapse in my own concentration rather than an issue with the story itself, but it made me want to experience the book again in print. I suspect I’d notice details that passed me by the first time.

For me, these elements were enough to keep the novel at 3 BookFairies rather than 4.

Who Would Enjoy This Book?

I’d recommend Eeny Meeny to readers who enjoy fast-paced British crime thrillers with short chapters and plenty of momentum. If you like police procedurals, morally complex mysteries and series that allow their main detective to grow over time, this is an excellent place to start.

It’s also a great choice if you’re looking for a long-running series to invest in. With more than fourteen books already available, Helen Grace’s story offers plenty of room for character development beyond this first instalment.

If, like me, you prefer slower pacing, longer chapters and stories that completely immerse you in their atmosphere, your experience may be slightly different. Even so, I believe the novel does exactly what a first book in a series should do: it introduces compelling characters, establishes an intriguing premise and leaves you wanting to discover what comes next.

Final Thoughts

Not every first book in a series has to be unforgettable. Sometimes its most important role is to introduce a world and characters that make readers want to continue.

That’s exactly how I felt about Eeny Meeny.

Although it wasn’t a perfect match for my personal reading style, I genuinely enjoyed meeting Helen Grace and watching her take her first steps as a detective. She still has plenty of room to grow, and I suspect that’s one of the reasons this series has remained so popular over the years.

I’ll definitely continue with the next book, and I’m looking forward to seeing how both Helen Grace and M. J. Arlidge’s storytelling evolve as the series progresses.

📖 Book Details

Title: Eeny Meeny

Romanian Title: Ghici cine moare primul (Editura Trei)

Author: M. J. Arlidge

Series: Helen Grace #1 – Ongoing (14+ books)

Genre: Mystery • Thriller • Adult Fiction

Pages: 496

Format Read: Audiobook

Publisher: Penguin Books

Published: 26 March 2015

ISBN: 9781405915600