19yo freshman Sara is just trying to get through her final month at uni when she stumbles onto what she thinks is a smuggling ring in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Polcari chose 1st person POV in "Against My Better Judgement", which gives his readers unfiltered access to Sara's thoughts. And I do mean unfiltered. Unlike most 1st person POVs, Sara's narration is frequently interrupted by wandering thought and loud or annoying sounds around her, which makes for an immersive experience. Sara is also a fun character. She's ridiculously clumsy with a penchant for destroying things around her, which lands her in trouble more often than not. She also has a history of blowing what she deems to be suspicious situations up, which is where the uncertainty in the book comes from.
As far as the rest of the characters go, Polcari writes up an entertaining cast that compliment Sara. Zoe serves as her tether to reality, reigning her in when she gets too out of touch. While Mrs Majelski is a wacky protector who looks out for Sara, putting even law enforcement on edge. Then there's Mauzzy. He's Sara's doggy sidekick, and a fantastic addition to the story, he brings extra levity to the story especially during more tense scenes.
Given her past, it's unclear whether or not this this smuggling ring actually exists. It's an added layer of complexity to the plot. The story had me engaged from the get-go. It's fast moving, but the action is never overwhelming as there are enough scenes of Sara with her friends or her trusty sidekick to create a good balance.
Speaking of the sidekick, I do have one main issue with the book and that was Mauzzie's walks. I realise they're often gateway to get the plot moving, but there's an emphasis on how often Sara wants him to do his business and he is reluctant to. It was just a bit weird to read about that every couple chapters.
Beyond that, the writing is decent. I really liked the way Polcari incorporates sounds into the story, but it didn't stand out much otherwise. I had no trouble getting through the book, in fact I read it in about a day. I liked Sara's inner voice and I'd happily pick up another of Polcari's books.
All in all, I enjoyed "Against My Better Judgment" by B.T. Polcari. It's a fun mystery novel, and perfect for a more relaxed reading.
