I thought I was going to be confused by The Homemaker, a new psych thriller from Shari J. Ryan.
Many books in this genre have a prologue that fits into the story at some point. But this one has both a preface and a prologue. And it is impossible to tell if they’re from the same point of view or even in the same time period.
The story that follows unfolds from multiple points of view in multiple time frames. We have Jenna or Ginger now and Jenna or Ginger last year – and there’s no pattern to which one is carrying the story. It’s not an equal back and forth.
In spite of that, the action is very clear, and I actually was NOT confused at any point. The author does a masterful job of keeping all of the balls in the air and the plot flowing in a way that holds the reader’s interest.
Jenna and her husband Oliver move into a house across the street from Ginger and her neighbor Peyton. Is there history between the characters? Is it just neighborhood drama? Or is there something deeper and darker going on?
I’m not going to say, but again – the plotting is just perfect.
One thing that stood out is Jenna’s early chapters. The descriptions and details are harrowing and allow the reader to fully understand Jenna’s mindset, especially when contrasted to the year before. Ginger is a little bit harder to get a grasp of, but there’s a reason for that.
And then there’s Peyton. It’s interesting to note that as central as she is, she doesn’t get a say in the story. Again, adds to the mystery. But she is important.
I liked how everything built to the climax, and the reader got to experience it simultaneously with Jenna and Ginger, not really knowing more than they did. And what a climax it is. There are a few jaw-dropping twists at the end, too.
The Homemaker is a solid psych thriller, and I look forward to the next book from Shari J. Ryan.
