Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane

 "That's how they win. They destroy you in silence until you're afraid of speaking out. They attack in your own damn house, where you should be safe."

Lila Ridgefield has always told herself that Aaron wasn't an abusive husband -- but she was wrong. Damaged as she was from childhood trauma, Lila has a stoic personality and fails to understand just how dangerous Aaron is. Until she finds the videos. Her solution seems sound and takes lots of planning. It should have been the end of her problems, but then Aaron goes missing and this can't be right since she arranged things so well and remembers exactly where she left his body. NO SPOILERS.

What a great domestic thriller to end my 2020 reading list! I loved the story line and the narrative was quite twisty and fun. I found this very hard to put down and it kept me guessing until the end. I found the characters quite interesting and well-developed. I was never quite sure which version of events to believe and whom to root for, but i was quite satisfied with the conclusion. There's a lot going on in this suspense novel and I think fans of this genre will not be disappointed.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre  - Debut in domestic suspense genre.

Saltwater Graves (Detective Casey Whie #3) by B.R. Spangler

"With every high-profile case came a mountain of speculation and rumor."

And in this case, the rumors have to do with Detective Casey White's love, ex-sheriff Jericho Flynn. Implicated in a series of murders, Jericho sees his mayoral campaign collapse. Meanwhile, the newly pregnant Casey is visiting a convicted serial killer in prison. Casey knows that Paige Kotes killed Jericho's wife, but now there's a shadow of doubt. NO SPOILERS.

This novel had every trope known to the typical female detective crime thriller. Although it is the third I've read in the series, it will be my last. I was very disappointed by the conclusion and outcome of this story and don't care to revisit the Outer Banks again. It's too bad that Casey has just one heartbreak and devastation after another, and I won't go down the road with her again. This wasn't a very exciting case and I struggled to get through it especially when I could see the direction it was going. I can see that others really like this series, so I'll leave them to it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for the e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the third in a series that should be read in order.

Genre - female detective, crime thriller, series

We Thought We Knew You by M. William Phelps

  "...sometimes people arrive in our lives and, like black mold, create havoc and hell without us having a clue what is happening."

This is a very well-written true crime account with all the details surrounding the murder of Mary Yoder by Katie Conley in 2015. I do not remember this case on my radar, though I typically follow news of this sort. The story was so interesting because it involved a perpetrator who had insinuated herself into the Yoder family (as girlfriend to Adam Yoder) and as a receptionist/office manager at Chiropractic Family Care, the family business in upstate New York.

The murder weapon was quite unusual -- colchicine -- a very toxic medication used in the treatment of gout. It has a very narrow therapeutic window, and has no antidote or effective treatment if that range is exceeded. The revelations that describe how Katie planned and carried out the poisoning of Dr. Mary Yoder were chilling. It is incredibly scary that a 23-year-old family friend and trusted employee ended up charged in Oneida County Court with second degree murder, forgery, falsifying business records, and petit larceny. The motive(s) behind Katie's acts further demonstrate her narcissism and sociopathy. The lengths Katie went through to try to frame others to hide her guilt defy any understanding of emotions or empathy. I am not sure she got the punishment she deserved, but you will have to read all about the trials to see for yourself.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. I plan to look for other books by this very talented author -- he really broke this down well and laid out all the facts.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - true crime, murder, secrets, betrayal, deception, poisoning

The Visitors by Miranda Rijks

Hannah and her husband, Daniel Pieters, live in a lovely home in the midst of a rural farm property on the outskirts of London. He's a cardiothoracic surgeon and works long hours in town, so Hannah and their two children are fairly isolated. Hannah decides to renovate a dilapidated barn and turn it into a holiday rental both as a project and to make a little extra money. She finally has everything redecorated and has opened to visitors. Unfortunately, the visitors -- Mike, Nadia, and their daughter Kayleigh, are anything but good customers. Things go from bad to worse as they wreak havoc on both the property and on Hannah's family. NO SPOILERS.

This was a difficult read for me and I almost DNF a couple of times. I can't tolerate characters who have no backbone and who make such horrible decisions that allow bad situations to become even worse. I did not like ANY of the characters in this novel nor could I relate to any of the various situations where Hannah is meant to be courageous and stand up for herself but doesn't. Although the ending and resolution were a bit of a surprise (came out of nowhere), I wasn't gripped by curiosity nor did I find much of it believable. Sorry, this was just not my cup of tea.

Thank you to NetGalley and Inkubator Books for this e-book ARC to read and review. 

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - psychological drama, mystery

Seven Lies by Elizabeth Kay

 Let me tell you 'bout my best friend...

Oh, Jane -- she just loves too much. Is too loyal. She would do anything for Marnie, her BFF since middle school. They've shared everything and Marnie helped Jane through one of the worst parts of her life. They will be just like this forever. That's what Jane thinks, but then Marnie falls in love and gets married. Jane will tell you exactly how she feels about all that happened next. NO SPOILERS.

What a compelling psychological thriller as Jane confesses the truth from her point of view. Sure she tells a few lies (seven, in fact), but sometimes it best served her situation. She's definitely a sociopath and she demands so much because of her obsession with Marnie as their toxic relationship unravels. The masterful writing draws you in and keeps you turning the pages. I found this almost impossible to put down as I raced to find out how this would end. This is not usually the type of book that I'm drawn to read, so this was a nice surprise and I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is a standalone debut and is not part of any series.

Genre - psychological thriller, toxic friendships, obsession

The Empty Bed (Burial Society #2) by Nina Sadowsky

 What an exciting follow-up to the first book in the Burial Society series! Using a team of people with dubious marketable skills, Catherine and her shadowy organization exist to help those who need protection or other types of favors that allow them to vanish from dangerous situations. This thriller takes the reader from the USA to London to Hong Kong to Mexico City while Catherine juggles her latest clients. There is a very complicated operation involving many different characters who are desperate for the assistance of the Burial Society. NO SPOILERS.

Told in alternating points of view, this features a couple of the same characters from the first book, but is set three years after those events. I think it essential to have read the previous one before starting this just so you have all the history and backstory. There's lots of action and many different story lines going on simultaneously that eventually come together in a very satisfying conclusion. I enjoyed this and hope that Ms. Sadowsky is planning on a third installment. Catherine is a very interesting protagonist and we are still learning bits and pieces of her past and I'm eager to see what cause and clients she takes on next. This would make a fabulous adaptation to film or TV show.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. 

This is the second book in a series that needs to be read from the beginning, in order. 

Genre - mystery, thriller, shadowy organization

The Burial Socieety (#1 Catherine) by Nina Sadowsky

A great premise -- a shadowy organization that rescues people from dangerous situations and helps them escape into new, safe lives. Catherine is at the helm of this "Burial Society" and gets fixated on the 'one that got away' when she hears that new tragedy has struck a family where she was unable to save a client due to Catherine's own mistake. Her guilt gets her involved in this sorry saga.

I enjoyed this psychological thriller but just could not get too invested in the Burrows' storyline and, unfortunately, those characters ended up forming most of the narrative. I was so much more interested in hearing about other rescues and saves and I did not care for Natalie or any of the family. Told in alternating chapters from the point of view of Catherine, Jake, and Natalie, the different perspectives make it somewhat difficult to figure out what is really going on. The mystery involves figuring out who killed whom and why. Easy to guess that so I wasn't surprised.  NO SPOILERS.

I do have the second book featuring Catherine in my queue and will read it next so I hope that the plot is different to this one and deals with different rescues more suited to the stated mission of the Burial Society.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-book ARC to read and review.

This is the first in a set of 2 books so far in the series. I've read in order.

Genre - psychological thriller, family drama, self-harm, murder

Convince Me by Nina Sadowsky

 "Life is long and complicated. You can live many lives in the course of one."

No one knew that better than Justin Childs. Not only did he live a thousand lies, he destroyed many lives in the process. Not often that one man can deceive and manipulate everyone who knew him, but Justin had that gift. And he got away with it. Until he didn't. NO SPOILERS.

This was really a fast, fun read told from various points of view painting a picture of a man who used people to get what he wanted. After his sudden death in a car accident, his widow, Annie,  his best friend and business partner, Will, and his loving mother, Carol, are grief-stricken, bewildered, and eventually left feeling betrayed. Justin was definitely a sociopath. The revelations of his machinations were dropped in the narrative with precision in this well-written psychological drama and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - psychological, family drama, sociopath

Dark Falls now titled SILENT RIDGE (Detective Megan Carpenter #3) by Gregg Olsen

If you have not read books #1 and #2 in this series, DO NOT read this. It's essential to have all the backstory in order to fully enjoy this third one -- and you definitely will! Note the title change to SILENT RIDGE.

I like this series a lot. The author has a writing style that really appeals to me and the story is told in first person voice from Detective Megan Carpenter's point of view. And, what an interesting character she is! "I destroy monsters, but I'm a monster."  If you'd had her past life, you might lean that way too.

After a woman who knew Megan in her previous identity is found murdered (that first chapter is a bit of a grisly shocker), Megan and her new sidekick, Deputy Ronnie Marsh, pull out all the stops to figure out how this all ties to events and murders that happened over 20 years previously. Lots of action and the inclusion of hearing the killer's point of view as well. NO SPOILERS.

I can't wait to see where the next installment will take Megan and Ronnie and am very much looking forward to continuing. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is the third in a series that really needs to be read, from the beginning, in order.

Genre - mystery thriller, serial killer, grisly

Watch Her Vanish (Rockwell and Decker #1) by Ellery A. Kane

 This is the first in a new mystery/thriller series featuring psychologist Olivia Rockwell and Detective Will Decker. The setting is Fog Harbor, California, present day.

Women are being murdered and all of them have a connection to Crescent Bay State Prison where Olivia works in the mental health section there. All of the evidence points to an incarcerated serial killer, Drake Devere. Rockwell and Decker end up working together to figure out if Drake is really committing these crimes. NO SPOILERS.

There was a lot going on in this book and sometimes the writing was a little too embellished, if you know what I mean. Lots of descriptive phrases and similes etc. I had a bit of a time trying to develop any affinity for either of the two main characters -- each with a complicated backstory making them both a bit of a psych mess themselves. The whole relationship between Olivia and Deck is textbook cliche romance more reminiscent of young adult love-hate, push-pull dynamics.
I was also annoyed that the reader is left with many unanswered questions and no conclusion to the story so I assume book 2 will pick up where this left off. I'm going to go ahead and read the second one, hoping that I get the answers and become more invested in the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. 

This is the first in a new series best read in order.

Genre - mystery thriller, detective, psychologist, prison

The Chalet by Catherine Cooper

 Note to self: do not go on a ski trip in the French Alps. Bad things happen there...

Two brothers and their current girlfriends go for a holiday at La Madiere, France, in December of 1998. Unfortunately, the brothers, Adam and Will, don't get along very well and matters come to a head while they are out skiing off piste as a terrible winter storm comes in. Abandoned by their guides, one of them is found the next morning and the other is not.

Flash forward to 2020. A luxurious chalet and several well-heeled guests trying to work a business deal while enjoying the fabulous skiing, the delicious food, copious amounts of alcohol, and the attention of their own personal chalet girl making sure that every need is met. Hugo and Ria Redbush own a holiday booking company and are looking to partner with Simon as an investor so they really want to impress him and his young wife, Cass. The foursome is definitely not meshing but everyone is playing his or her part as the week goes by. Lots of little irritations start to cause cracks in relationships and it seems that everything comes to a head when another severe winter storm paralyzes the resort. Then, a news report reveals that the body of a skier has been found after an avalanche. NO SPOILERS.

The synopsis is a little misleading but I did enjoy this book despite its similarity to Ruth Ware's ONE BY ONE that I read earlier this year. This is a revenge story and, despite the fact that all of the characters are pretty much miserable, unlikable creatures, I did feel some empathy for a couple of them. The writing was excellent and I liked the way the story unfolded through the time shifts and points of view between 1998 and present day. It made for a great winter read and, though I guessed at most of what was coming, the revelations were tantalizing as they dropped.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Publishers for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is a standalone and is not part of any series.

Genre - mystery thriller, revenge

The Drowned Woman (Jericho and Wright #2) by C.J. Lyons

 This second book in the series features Detective Sergeant Luka Jericho of the Cambria City Violent Crimes Unit and Dr. Leah Wright, formerly an ER physician, but now medical director of Good Samaritan Hospital's Crisis Intervention Center. They work together handling cases as necessary and, in this thriller, they are looking into a bad actor who identifies himself as Chaos.

Although the plot and the murders are complicated and involve a lot of characters, the premise is that someone is killing others in an attempt to get the attention of a former famous journalist, Risa Saliba. There is also a connection to Luka's past tragedy when his fiance supposedly committed suicide and drowned. In addition, the storyline about Leah's grief over her husband's death in book one continues.

Although not very suspenseful or thrilling, this is basically a detective novel. Unfortunately, I was able to guess the twists so there were no surprises here. I did find myself extremely annoyed by all the chapters devoted to the activities of Leah's 6-year-old daughter and all of that could have easily been left out of this book. I have no interest in reading a child's point of view in the novels I choose and definitely prefer action to long descriptions of internal angst. So, not sure I would continue with this series as I just can't get invested in either Jericho or Wright.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. 

This is the second in a series that should be read, from the beginning, in order.

Genre - crime thriller

Murder in the Snow (Lady Eleanor Swift #4) by Verity Bright

 A cozy mystery set in 1920s England has just the right stuff to put you in a festive mood for the Christmas season.

Lady Eleanor Swift is hosting the entire village at Henley Hall for all sorts of frolic and food as she celebrates her very first country Christmas. Unfortunately, a participant in the fun run set up on the grounds of the Hall dies at the finish line. Of course this was not a natural death as Inspector Seldon believes and Lady Eleanor and her butler and partner in crime, Clifford, set out to prove it was murder. NO SPOILERS.

I enjoyed reading about Eleanor's yuletide activities along with her amateur sleuthing. She and Clifford are a great pair and their interaction is often hilarious. She's a fun character and I had no problems following along even though I missed the third in the series. I am looking forward to the next installment. May your holidays be merry and bright -- and healthy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is the 4th in a series that should be read in order.

Genre - cozy historical mystery with amateur sleuth

Death at the Dance (Lady Eleanor Swift #2) by Verity Bright

I needed a bit of a break from grisly murder and emotional reads, so I was happy to return to this second in a series featuring Lady Eleanor Swift set in 1920s England. I adore this historical period and love the details of life during that time. This cozy mystery was exactly the tonic I needed.

In this installment, Lady Swift is attending a masked ball at the manor owned by the parents of her new love interest, Lance Langham. While there, she ends up stumbling upon Lance bending over a recently murdered guest, holding a heavy silver candlestick, and some very valuable family jewels missing from the safe. As (bad) luck would have it, the police find them immediately and arrest Lance on the spot for murder and burglary. Eleanor, along with her trusty butler and friend, Clifford, must clear his name. NO SPOILERS.

The thing is, some of this is outright funny. The interaction and friendship between Eleanor and Clifford makes me laugh because she is no typical English Lady and he is no normal manservant. I like the characters and the story moved along very quickly with lots of action and quite a few suspects. I look forward to the next in the series, but unfortunately I don't have a copy of #3, so I will be skipping along to the fourth straightaway. Enjoy!

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is the second in a series that should be read in order.

Genre - cozy historical mystery, amateur sleuth, 1920s

Truth be Told (Zara Kaleel #2) by Kia Abdullah

I'm sitting here in front of my computer -- a bit dazed and feeling quite emotional after reading this second book in the Zara Kaleel series in a matter of hours. Not only could I not put it down, I was glued to the pages wondering how this author was going to handle the subject of male rape.

At first, the premise and likely trajectory seem clear -- two boys at an elite same sex boarding school, a drunken party, a sexual encounter, and one of them says it was rape. The prosecutor's case is that Finn Andersen had sex with Kamran Hadid without his consent. Zara Kaleel, former barrister now an independent sexual violence advisor, becomes involved in supporting and helping Kamran before, through, and after the trial. But there is so much more to this book than courtroom drama or legal maneuverings. Within the pages there are themes of culture, religion, identity politics, family, privilege, and both physical and emotional trauma. NO SPOILERS.

The main character is Zara -- I can't help but love her for so many reasons. Yes, she's fierce but has paid a very high price for her strength. She is someone I wish I knew in real life. How she deals with all the things that happen in this story is beyond admirable in my eyes. But the way the author depicts Kamran is the real heartbreaking aspect of this novel. The writing is excellent and the author gives Kamran his own voice, sharing his reaction to all that happens. It's very powerful and definitely timely in our current social climate.

If you choose to read this -- and believe me there are a lot of triggers -- please read TAKE IT BACK first as it introduces you to Zara which makes this follow-up even better. What a fabulous selection for a book group that likes to dive deep as there would be so much to discuss.

I highly recommend this one and can't wait to meet Zara again so I hope there's another book in the works. 

This is the second book in a series and definitely read the first one before this.

Genre - courtroom thriller, family drama, male rape, taboos, Muslim, Society

Promises in the Dark (Detectives Kane and Alton #10) by D.K. Hood

 This 10th installment in the crime thriller series featuring Sheriff Jenna Alton and Deputy Dave Kane has them chasing down a murderous pyro psychopath.

Oh my goodness, the Black Rock Falls area of Montana has yet another serial killer on a rampage. To be honest, it is starting to strain credulity that this many crazies find that area and commit so many awful crimes. In this case, the crimes involve bombs and fire -- along with kidnapping and a host of other deviant behaviors. I think the tipping point for me was the connection between what was happening in Black Rock Falls to what happened in DC years ago to Kane and his wife, Annie. NO SPOILERS.

Despite having read this series from the start, I have never really liked Jenna and finally admit that I likely never will. I just find her too unbelievable in her role; her attitude and behavior irritates me. Although there was a lot of good forensic detail and long descriptions of everything involved in the murder and arson, I had guessed most everything about the outcome and the perpetrator quite early. I think the motivation explaining all these crimes was a bit of a stretch, but I can see by other reviews that no one else has any issues with it.

So why do I keep reading the series despite my issues? I like to finish what I start and I figure this can't go on much longer but who knows. Surely it's about time for a consummation of the Kane and Alton relationship? We will have to wait and see as book #11 should be out soon.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. 

This is the 10th book in a series that should be read, in order, from the beginning.

Genre - crime thriller, USA, arson, murder

Take it Back (Zara Kaleel#1) by Kia Abdullah

 Compelling and heartbreaking, this is the story of what happened when a disabled white girl accuses four Muslim boys of rape. It's more than a "she said, they said" novel and is not quite like other books that have surfaced in the wake of the "metoo movement. I found it almost impossible to put down and I can't stop thinking about it since I finished.

Although the narrative shifts in point of view among many of the main characters, the two who have the strongest voices are Zara Kaleel and Jodie Wolfe. Formerly a super rock star barrister at Bedford Row, Zara now works as an independent sexual violence advisor at Artemis House on Whitechapel Road. As a Muslim woman, she has gone through a lot to escape subjugation and traditional ethnic, cultural, and religious roles. She's single, but lonely, and has a strong desire to do "good" in this job. Still, she finds this case difficult. Sixteen-year-old Jodie Wolfe is the most unlikely of accusers -- she knows the boys who attacked her and she has a disease called neurofibromatosis. This condition is a genetic mutation and results in tumors that grow in the nervous system leading to severe deformity in Jodie's situation. (Often this is inaccurately called Elephant Man Syndrome). When Jodie alleges that the 4 boys from her school assaulted her, it sets of a firestorm of community upheaval between Muslim and White. Between native Brit and immigrant. As they move to trial, Zara learns more about Jodie and fully believes her and that what they are doing is right despite personal peril once the tabloids get involved. Can Zara stay the course and help Jodie get justice despite the social climate and the fact that the boys have a lot of support and claim innocence? NO SPOILERS.

This was so good on many levels. The writing was excellent and the emotions experienced by the characters seemed genuine without being melodramatic. I really liked Zara and her struggles were very well explained. As a sort of feminist in many areas, it pains me when women are controlled -- especially when those manipulations are made by family or a particular group because I just don't understand having only limited frame of reference. I think this would make a fabulous selection for a book club and I look forward to reading other reviews to get more perspective.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is apparently the first in a new series -- which I did not know until I went to review. I definitely want to read more. 

Genre - legal thriller, rape, Muslim

The Wicked Hour (Detective Natalie Lockhart #2) by Alice Blanchard

 This afternoon I went back to Burning Lake, New York, the "self-proclaimed epicenter for magic and witchcraft." This second crime thriller featuring Detective Natalie Lockhart was every bit as compelling as the first and I definitely suggest you read them in order to fully understand the backstory of everything that Natalie has gone through to this point. I read this over several hours, unable to put it down, as the excellent writing drew me in and the story line kept me guessing.

A body has been found in a dumpster the morning after Burning Lake's big Halloween bash. It's a young woman, a promising violinist, who was there for the Monster Mash -- a contest for the "spookiest Halloween musical act." As Natalie heads up the investigation, she finds, again, that even the townspeople she's known all her life are not above suspicion. As she chases leads and deals with her grief, Natalie begins to question other events that have happened in her town. NO SPOILERS.

I enjoyed this book and really like the details and descriptions the author relates about Burning Lake and its inhabitants. Natalie is a great character and fully believable as she navigates her personal losses while trying to become a better detective. Again, there are many red herrings so the big reveal is a bit of a surprise and I was pleased that the identity of the killer wasn't obvious. I was definitely glad that I was able to read the first two installments back-to-back but bummed now because I will have a long wait for the next one in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press for this e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend.

This is the second book and I suggest they be read in order.

Genre - police procedural, crime thriller, murder, witchcraft

Trace of Evil (Natalie Lockhart #1) by Alice Blanchard

 There is something -- someone -- evil in Burning Lake, New York. Detective Natalie Lockhart is examining a cold case where 9 people had vanished over the past 25 years. Then she catches her first ever murder case when a beloved teacher and wife of a fellow detective, Daisy Buckner, is murdered in her own kitchen. The town seems to have more than its share of darkness and soon Natalie and the rest of the BLPD are very busy with the investigation and search for the killer. NO SPOILERS.

The small town has a shameful secret: three innocent women were executed as witches in 1712. The lure of the occult is still strong there, however, and many young teenage girls get involved "into the Craft." As a young teenager, Natalie and her friends were involved in Wiccan activities and some of them even took a darker path and engaged in black magic and subsequently told lies and hid secrets. It seems now that events from many years ago have left a terrible scar.

I really enjoyed this introduction to the very atmospheric Burning Lake and to Natalie Lockhart. The writing was good, the plot convincing and different with the witchcraft angle. I look forward to getting to know the main characters better and imagine that future installments will bring a romance. The narrative zipped along and kept my attention with several surprises and a bit of a shocking conclusion at the end.

I'm off to start the second book in the series. Thank you to Minotaur Books for the e-book ARC to read, review, and recommend. 

This is the first in a new series that I will read in order.

Genre - police procedural, crime thriller, elements of occult and witchcraft

What My Husband Did by Kerry Wilkinson

  Twelve-year-old Alice Pritchard was left for dead in a creek. When the nearly lifeless body is found by Madeleine King and her friend's husband, Atal, things don't look good. Because Maddie's husband has not come home. Did Richard have something to do with what happened to Alice -- villagers say that they saw Alice getting into Richard's car that day. NO SPOILERS.

I had a hard time getting into this one -- it was very slow moving and the mystery was not that gripping so I kept putting it down. Told in a past/present narrative from Maddie's point of view, the bulk of the story has to do with small town drama and past indiscretions. Secrets and lies are eventually revealed explaining everything. I found it a bit of a disappointment having read many of this author's previous books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review. 

This is a standalone and is not part of any series. The synopsis does not really reflect book content and is somewhat misleading. 

Genre - small village drama with secrets and lies, mystery