"But people, you know, they like having someone to blame, don't they? The like knowing who the bad person is."
This is a very slow, dark psychological thriller told from three different points of view. There's Owen Pick, 33 years old, disgraced and suspended from his teaching job after allegations of sexual harassment, whose pitiful living situation puts him directly across the street from the Fours family. Cate and Roan Fours live in a rented flat with their teenage children, Georgia and Josh. Roan is a child psychologist with Cate pretty much a stay-at-home mom. Their marriage is a bit rocky as Cate doesn't trust Roan due to his past behavior and inability to remain faithful. And lastly, there's Saffyre Maddox. She's now 17 years old but is a former patient of Roan's with a history of self-harming. Saffyre felt abandoned when she was pronounced "cured" and has taken to stalking Roan and his family. Things are happening on the street both inside the homes and outside in the dark. Saffyre is watching until the night she disappears. NO SPOILERS.
I feel like this drug on forever and I had no problem putting it down for long periods of time as it was hard for me to get into the narrative. I was unable to identify with any of the characters but Owen's part of the story made me very anxious for him. I didn't find any twists and turns as it all seemed predictable but the content themes of sexual assault, involuntary celibacy (incel), rape fantasy, adultery, were addressed by the characters and the story line. This was not my favorite Lisa Jewell novel, but it was OK.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.
This is a standalone and is not part of any series.
Genre - psychological thriller, family drama
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