Ashley Tate delivers a gripping debut thriller that delves into the intricacies of guilt, grief, and regret. The narrative unfolds in the three days leading up to the memorial marking the 10th anniversary of Phoebe’s tragic death. Tate skillfully weaves the perspectives of Grant, Becca, June, and Wyatt creating suspense as the reader learns about the tragic accident.

Twenty-Seven Minutes, the time it took Grant to call for help after the accident that took his sister Phoebe’s life, becomes the haunting backdrop to the story. Ten years later, speculation and town gossip linger in the air of this small Texas community where secrets are hard to keep, and even in death, Phoebe remains a central figure due to her immense popularity. But there’s a dysfunctional family element that adds to the mystery.

The narrative focuses on the four main characters, most with shades of unlikeability. Grant was a high school football hero and is tortured by memories of the night of the accident and consumed with the secret he’s keeping. He is haunted by Phoebe’s ghost and has turned to alcohol as a form of coping. Becca was a passenger in the accident who knows the truth- or a version she is led to believe. Her character intrigues me because she’s lost a grip on reality- she resents all the attention towards Phoebe when she has suffered too.

While the events leading up to the memorial raise questions about the town’s suspended time, the author captures the nuances of grief and guilt in the characters’ experiences and emotions. Becca’s struggle to keep Grant’s secret for a decade adds a psychological depth even though I found it challenging to believe. June’s mourning of the death of her mother and Wyatt’s return after ten years raises questions from the past. Was it a coincidence that Wyatt left town the night of the accident? He’s back and is ready to share what really happened that night. The inclusion of interspersed chapters from ten years ago provides an important element to the narrative which gradually unravel the mystery of Phoebe’s death on the bridge.

The author’s writing shines in depicting the weight of loss in a claustrophobic small town and creating deep and complex characters. The story builds towards a riveting conclusion with a major twist, skillfully revealed, leaving me astonished. I will be anticipating future works by this new author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for a copy of this arc in exchange for my review.

This book initially had me super hooked, but unfortunately I felt like it was easy to figure out. Gave YA small town mystery vibes which I enjoyed and always love an "it girl" who wasn't all she seemed. This was a super quick and easy read though. Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced e reader copy.