This is the third book I’ve read by this author and once again, it’s a mixed bag but I liked more than I didn’t. 

This was a dark story, on many levels compared to the others I’ve read and that worked well with Lourey’s writing style and kept me glued to the pages. Similar to past criticisms though, there’s too much going on. The storylines that were wrapped up and explained completely were great. They were enough and it would have made for a more satisfying experience without the hints toward other wrongdoing that weren’t fleshed out. 

Due to only partially explained circumstances, one of the main characters ears was severely burned and continually referred to (in her own narrative) as a deformity. While I do understand how a 16 year old girl might think that, it was disheartening not to see any effort to dissuade that line of thought. There was also a missed opportunity to explore the effects around mental health; it was left as an ill-defined piece of the plot without any substance. 

Despite the issues, I still had a great time reading this one and would recommend to thriller/mystery fans.