I’m not sure that I classify this solely as a psychological thriller. I think it is more suspense thriller with mystery and maybe a hint of the psychological.
Maybe that is splitting hairs. What it is, without a doubt, is a page-turning read with twists that I did not see coming.
But why do I like it so much?
First and foremost, the plotting is superb. The action moves enough to be interesting without speeding over things. It isn’t bogged down by details either.
Second, Jessica is a sympathetic character. She is relatable as a woman who used to have a career, got sidelined by having a child, and is trying to find her new niche. I think many women experience that.
Third, I just like how Jessica puts everything together. She is no super-sleuth or busybody. She uses her instincts, knows when something isn’t right, and wants to figure it out. It’s not just curiosity…especially when things start to affect her family.
Actually, this is another aspect of the book that is well-done. The little things that pop up make Jessica question what is real and what she is imagining are realistic – her thought process makes sense throughout the story.
And beware of a tenacious mom when her child becomes the victim of unexplained accidents. Because Jessica shows that once her daughter is threatened she will stop at nothing to figure everything out.
https://geni.us/B09D9QNSFQsocial
Strangely, the parts with Jessica’s mom were familiar to me and it gave me a perspective on my own mom’s recent move. So, thanks to the author for that!
Most of all, the author perfectly captures neighborhood intrigue, especially the aspect of everybody being in everybody else’s business while hiding secrets of their own.
Regarding that, I wish that there had been more of the Neighbor List entries. From what I have seen, that is a growing trend in books (including social media messages), and I think more of them in this case could have added to the story.
However, it remains a well-written psychological thriller with relatable characters, a page-turning plot, and a twist I only partly saw coming. I highly recommend it.
Others by this author:
Twitter: @LauraWolfeBooks
Instagram: lwolfe.writes/
Author Bio
Laura Wolfe’s fascination with things that go bump in the night probably stems from having watched too many scary movies when she was younger. She is an active member of multiple writing groups, including Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers. Laura enjoys living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with her husband, son, and daughter.
