by Freida McFadden

A Mystery/Thriller, 2024 by Poisoned Pen Press, 400 Pages 

What I Didn’t Like:

• What year is this? So much of this language, behavior, and description reads like an early 2000 setting but the cellphones are obviously modern. So either this author meant to set it in early 2000 or the author doesn’t realize how much has changed in 24 years. 
• Cliches and stereotypes. If you are sensitive to those, maybe find another book to read. 
• Content Warning: Cheating, inappropriate content between a teacher and a minor, bullying. Honestly, it was HARD to read this one for me. It’s packed with people behaving BADLY and doesn’t pull any punches with that bad behavior. 
• That epilogue is one step too far, in my opinion. We didn’t need that last connection. It added nothing to the story. It actually added questions and a plot hole. 

What I Did Like:

• Part 2. Something about the POV change and the change in tone WORKED. It upped the stakes, added intrigue, and pulled you back into the story.
• Eve. In a story full of people behaving badly, she’s a character you can get behind (a little) and sympathize with to an extent. 
• It is shocking. You definitely won’t be able to predict everything in this one.

Who Should Read This One:

• Fans of psychological thrillers who don’t mind cliches and aren’t overly sensitive to plot holes who can handle books with content warnings like this. Basically, if you just want to read a book and be shocked … this will do that. 

My Rating: 2 Stars

• For me, the overly stereotyped characters and the plot holes were problematic. Plus, that content needed some serious warnings up front.