A few notes before I get into this book:
This is my first book by this author as well as my first “single-sitting” book.
I will admit it took me a chapter or two to adjust to the style since it is very different from my usual taste. Once we were off and running, the characters came forward and the writing style faded into the background.
The novel opens with a body in a field—a young woman who is known and loved in the community. The town is small and quiet, and this death is sure to rock the foundation.
The story unfolds from the perspectives of several characters, each conveying their own insight into the life of the victim as well as their thoughts on her killer. This slow-reveal approach had me turning pages as fast as my eyes would keep up. The characters themselves are layered and compelling, with more than a few being unreliable and as flawed as the rest of us.
Without spoiling the end—I guessed and changed my mind about the killer several times. By the time the actual killer was exposed, it was delivered as a soft twist that you saw coming, but hoped wasn’t true.
I loved that the novel explores the viewpoint of the victim in a way that feels authentic. In her death, she is in a somewhat confused or dreamlike state, unsure of exactly what happened to her. Which feels plausible in a sudden crime of passion. As her memory returns and she realizes the truth, your heart breaks along with hers.
If you are looking for a quick crime novel, this would be a great choice. I see this as an ideal book for a road trip or a rainy Sunday.
Hope you enjoy it.
Ana