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astoriareader's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-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? Yes
4.0
SYNOPSIS:
- Sadie, a physician, and her husband, Will, have two sons, Tate & Otto. They have relocated from Chicago to Maine. Will’s sister, Alice, recently passed away, and they inherited Alice’s home & have become the guardian of Alice’s teenage daughter, Imogen.
- Shortly after the family moves in, there was a murder next door.
- We are also introduced to two other narrators/characters in the story: Camille, who had an affair with Will, and Mouse, a young girl that has an evil stepmother.
MY THOUGHTS
- Multiple POVs (Sadie, Camille, Mouse, and at the end, Will has a few chapters too)
- Lots of twists. Although for seasoned readers of the genre, some are a bit predictable.
- I am a big fan of Kubica’s writing, and I enjoy her writing style. This is the third book I’ve read by her.
- Excellent pacing. I got through this one in about a day & a half. Satisfying ending.
- Atmospheric setting. Secluded island off Maine, and Kubica deftly illustrates the old, dreary, musty house to give the house a creepy personality of its own.
- The adult characters aren’t very likable in this one.
- Without giving away more, my one gripe is Kubica’s use of mental illness as plot device. Although handled better than most authors, it’s still a personal pet peeve of mine.
TL;DR: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Suspense with solid ending. Finished in 1.5 days. As a fan of Kubica, I enjoyed this one.
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Stalking, and Gaslighting
Minor: Bullying, Cursing, Infidelity, Self harm, Blood, Car accident, and Alcohol