by Alice Feeney

A Mystery/Thriller, 2023 by Flatiron Books, 306 Pages

What I Didn’t Like:

• There are a lot of coincidences. I don’t believe in coincidences so I kept looking for ways to explain them. Some didn’t get explained fully.
• Not as packed with twists as some of her other books. They’re here but quieter and a bit more predictable.
• The ending felt overly saccharine for the story we were telling.

What I Did Like:

• The characters are intriguing. They’re all relatable and realistic. You relate to the mother who feels spited by her daughter. Then, when you change POV, you relate to the daughter who feels neglected by the mother. It’s masterful character crafting.
• The surprises do deliver in an interesting sort of soft way. You find yourself mildly shocked but mostly curious about what the characters will do with this.
• At its heart, this is a story about being a daughter and being a mother. It’s interesting to imagine what you would do in these situations, as unusual and painful as they are.

Who Should Read This One:

• Fans of family dramas, mysteries, and motherhood stories. This has all of those elements.

My Rating: 3 Stars