August 30, 2020

This was one twisty psych thriller that (for the most part) did keep me guessing right up until the final pages.

The author starts with police arriving at the scene of a crime, then goes backwards in time to the events leading up to the crime before moving the action forward. It was an unusual yet very effective way of telling the story.

Perspectives also shifted between characters, so multiple people were telling the story. There were only a few times that the transition seemed abrupt; otherwise, the story flowed between characters. It allowed the reader to question the other characters’ motives and actions which was something else that drew me into the story.

If the first half or so is psych thriller, the second half turns courtroom drama, but with the psych thriller undertone. The author handles the juxtaposition handily and keeps the tension ratcheted.

Throughout the book there were several times that I switched my allegiances to characters. I questioned what I thought I knew and second-guessed what had occurred. I did figure out one twist fairly early on, but even then, I was never 100% sure until the end. Scratch that…I’m still not 100% sure!

What I liked most about the book was that it was ultimately the story of Cleo and Evie. I don’t want to give too much away, because there are some brilliant curves thrown at the reader. But both women had much more in common than either was ever willing to admit. It almost became a battle of wills (or so it seemed) and it wasn’t until literally the last pages of the book that the question of who would win was answered.

But was the “winner” truly victorious? You’ll have to read it to find out. Don’t miss this one.

Author Bio:

Rachel Abbott was born just outside Manchester, England, and spent most of her working life as the Managing Director of an interactive media company. After her company was sold in 2000, she fulfilled a lifelong ambition of buying and restoring a property in Italy. She now splits her time between homes in Italy and Alderney, where she writes full time and has just completed her sixth novel.

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