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jennthebookworm's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
While I do my best to make sure my reviews are spoiler-free, I may inadvertently reveal information that can help you connect plot points. So, here’s my TL;DR spoiler-free review: A great thriller, with a big twist that was a bit predictable, but that didn’t take away from the enjoyment of the storytelling. The mini twists and character building are amazing.
Ten years ago, there was an accident that changed the lives of all those involved. Golden Girl Phoebe was killed, her brother Grant lost his sports scholarship, and everyone has basically forgotten that Becca was in the backseat, also badly injured. Another man, Wyatt, also went missing the same night. Now, Phoebe’s mother is planning a memorial, Wyatt is back, his sister June is asking questions that no one wants answered, and Grant and Becca are losing it.
The book goes back and forth between then and now, told from the POV of Grant, Becca, June, Wyatt, and ‘Ten Years Ago’. The storytelling here is masterful. At first, I felt so bad for Grant, but it turns out he’s a bit of a dick. And poor Becca, she was in the car and all anyone can talk about is Phoebe. It turns out this girl has gone and lost whatever marbles she had left. Holy crow. While I felt the overall “twist” was a bit predictable, the turns that Becca and Grant’s characters take… I just can’t. I think I liked June best overall, although none of the characters are particularly likable.
This is very much a slow-burn thriller. You dive deep into the backstory of the characters and their motivations. If anything, it could do with a little more plot building. The writing is absolutely phenomenal, and Tate is a great storyteller. While I normally like a more fast-paced thriller, this book had me hooked from the start. I kept telling myself “just one more chapter” until the next thing I knew it was 2 am and I was done. I very much look forward to this author’s next book.
Thank you to the author Ashley Tate, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book.
Ten years ago, there was an accident that changed the lives of all those involved. Golden Girl Phoebe was killed, her brother Grant lost his sports scholarship, and everyone has basically forgotten that Becca was in the backseat, also badly injured. Another man, Wyatt, also went missing the same night. Now, Phoebe’s mother is planning a memorial, Wyatt is back, his sister June is asking questions that no one wants answered, and Grant and Becca are losing it.
The book goes back and forth between then and now, told from the POV of Grant, Becca, June, Wyatt, and ‘Ten Years Ago’. The storytelling here is masterful. At first, I felt so bad for Grant, but it turns out he’s a bit of a dick. And poor Becca, she was in the car and all anyone can talk about is Phoebe. It turns out this girl has gone and lost whatever marbles she had left. Holy crow. While I felt the overall “twist” was a bit predictable, the turns that Becca and Grant’s characters take… I just can’t. I think I liked June best overall, although none of the characters are particularly likable.
This is very much a slow-burn thriller. You dive deep into the backstory of the characters and their motivations. If anything, it could do with a little more plot building. The writing is absolutely phenomenal, and Tate is a great storyteller. While I normally like a more fast-paced thriller, this book had me hooked from the start. I kept telling myself “just one more chapter” until the next thing I knew it was 2 am and I was done. I very much look forward to this author’s next book.
Thank you to the author Ashley Tate, the publisher Poisoned Pen Press, and NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book.
bherrmann525's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
mk_pagano's review against another edition
5.0
This is the story of a small town with secrets -- always an intriguing premise. The town's golden girl, Phoebe, died in a car accident ten years ago. And everyone can't stop wondering why her brother, the driver, took 27 minutes to call an ambulance, when Phoebe likely would have survived had he called on time.
This book starts with an incredibly heartbreaking prologue as Phoebe lays dying in the rain. Then we flash forward ten years, to Grant, Phoebe's brother, who is not doing well. In fact, no one in this town is doing well. This is a multi-POV story that tells us the perspective of a few different people who were there the night Phoebe died, jumping back and forth in time between the present and the events leading up to the accident. I admit I could not figure out what had happened, and did NOT see that twist at the end coming. If you like small-town mysteries, unlikable characters, and mysteries with a twist, definitely pick this one up!
This book starts with an incredibly heartbreaking prologue as Phoebe lays dying in the rain. Then we flash forward ten years, to Grant, Phoebe's brother, who is not doing well. In fact, no one in this town is doing well. This is a multi-POV story that tells us the perspective of a few different people who were there the night Phoebe died, jumping back and forth in time between the present and the events leading up to the accident. I admit I could not figure out what had happened, and did NOT see that twist at the end coming. If you like small-town mysteries, unlikable characters, and mysteries with a twist, definitely pick this one up!
mimi2018's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
4.0
asumprer's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
liztaylor772's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
jennyjones's review against another edition
Got very bored and the book didn't seem to be going anywhere... I skipped ahead to read the conclusion and it wasnt that interesting either.
snaze6's review against another edition
3.0
Unfortunately this wasn’t a book I enjoyed. I was expecting a book with thriller, suspenseful or psychological vibes and this is not that type of book. It’s a mystery in a small town told from multiple POV and in different timelines, both past and present.
I struggled to stay engaged and read this to the end. I can see where this would be some readers type of both, but unfortunately it’s just not mine.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I struggled to stay engaged and read this to the end. I can see where this would be some readers type of both, but unfortunately it’s just not mine.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
breshani7's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book had so much potential. Unfortunately, it slogged on. Most of the conversations just go round and round in dizzying circle, never divulging any useful information. The characters and plot are stuck in a state of arrested development. None of the characters felt like real humans, especially Phoebe. I wanted to DNF, but just sped the audio up to 1.8 to hurry to the obvious twist.