by Charlie Donlea

A Mystery/Thriller, 2023 by Kensington, 432 Pages 

What I Didn’t Like:

• Content warning: Implied sexual assault of minors
• The separate parts feel very disconnected when they begin. The reader has this sort of confusion wondering where this is all going. 
• I felt like the reporter recognizing Alex was a stretch. The change in appearance was described as being pretty drastic. 
• The final “twist” was predictable. It wasn’t the biggest mystery so that’s forgivable.

What I Did Like:

• Part 1 is excellent at getting you sucked into the story. Short chapters, alternating between retelling on the stand and witnessing it are both excellent tools for pulling a reader into a story quickly. 
• Alex is a solid character. Her backstory is tragic but she’s so much more than that. Her grief shapes who she is but you also get to watch her rise above that and become someone separate from that grief. 
• Overall, the solution made logical sense and tied up all the loose ends of the story well. It was believable.

Who Should Read This One:

• Fans of mysteries that run deep and contain lots of layers. This one is complex and well written. 

My Rating: 4 Stars