May 16, 2020

I’m not exactly sure how to classify this book. It’s not exactly a psychological thriller, but it’s not really a crime/mystery either. It’s twisted and has a LOT going on. It seems as if everyone is lying at one point or another, and as the story progresses, it becomes more difficult to tell who is telling the truth and when.

What I found especially interesting about this book was that none of the characters particularly grabbed me. I didn’t relate to any of them, but I think it actually worked better that way because I was able to read it with a detachment. This enabled me to have a more critical eye in looking for clues to the truth. It was a different experience in reading (and I always like new things like this).

I will say that I found Nora to be one of the most unpredictable characters I have ever “met.” I flip-flopped on whether she was just brilliant and misunderstood or a complete psychopath. There were several aspects to her character that could be interpreted in many ways. To be honest, I’m still not entirely sure about her.

The writer tackles multiple issues in this book, some of which may be difficult for some readers. Dating violence is one example, but the author does handle it tactfully. It’s not graphic and does not last through the whole book. There is another situation that could be disturbing to some, but to mention it would give away the plot. I know that’s unhelpful, and I’m sorry for it. But I’m sure you can find it in other reviews.

There is a mystery to be solved, and there are several possible suspects. At any given point, any of them could be guilty. There was a lot of build-up to the big reveal, which occurred in an extremely intense confrontation.

But then, it seemed like the end was very rushed. For example, one plotline was tossed off with an “I’ll never know who did this” when the action in question played a fairly significant part in one character’s story arc. There were also a few other summary sentences about important points that just seemed to fizzle. It was almost as if the writer wanted the story to be wrapped up quickly.

Ultimately, it was a story about an event in a small-town (the author did capture the claustrophobia of small-town living quite well), and how the impact of that event carries on over the years. Then it becomes a matter of revenge. How far would you go to enact revenge on an old wrong? I recommend this book, but just know that this is only one of the questions you may find unanswered.

Author Bio

Heather Gudenkauf is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of many books, including The Weight of Silence and These Things Hidden. Heather graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in elementary education, has spent her career working with students of all ages. She lives in Iowa with her husband, three children, and a very spoiled German Shorthaired Pointer named Lolo. In her free time, Heather enjoys spending time with her family, reading, hiking, and running.