How to describe this one?
A lot of tension, a slow build up that creates distrust in the characters (for multiple reasons), a pivot to some crazy stuff, resulting in an ending that didn’t quite live up to the build.
I guess that’s it in a nutshell.
But that doesn’t do it justice.
I found Julia to be an unreliable character. I wasn’t sure if she was genuinely good or if she had ulterior motives. There were times when I thought she was putting on an act so she could “go along to get along” in her new job.
But I couldn’t tell if that act was because she was nervous due to her past experience or if she was the sinister one.
I’m not telling you which perspective is correct, if any.
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It was clear, however, that Nathan had massive ulterior motives for many different things. He came across as somewhat of a caricature to me – successful plastic surgeon who everyone loves but who hides a darker side.
It reminded me of the television show “Nip/Tuck” quite a bit. If you’ve seen the show, you’ll understand. In fact, I pictured Julian McMahon as I read Nathan’s sections.
I did think the “men bad” was a bit heavy at times. The drunk ex-husband who shows up unannounced and unwanted more than a few times, the “good ol’ boy” network at the hospital. We get it – it’s tough for a woman in a man’s profession.
But is it really? I mean, Julia is pretty accomplished. Does there have to be that sense of she’s not good enough? Or she had ulterior motives at her previous job? It does get tiresome.
All in all, the build is what saves the book. The reader knows (because Julia tells us) that bad stuff happened in the past. But the past doesn’t always stay in the past.
So, you know that something is going to happen. The wait for that shoe to drop is delicious. I just wish it finished a little bit stronger. I would still recommend it though.
Author Bio:
Lucy has been writing psychological suspense novels since 2008, when her first bestseller – His Other Lover – was published. Since then her work has been translated into numerous languages.
Her gripping books jump in at the deep end… the extraordinary things that can happen to ordinary couples, families and friends with devastating conclusions.
