Lively and satirical ... Part mystery, part social commentary, A Better World is cinematic and ambitious, though it might have benefited from a narrower focus ... As with any good satire, the real subject of this novel is not the morally bankrupt town of Plymouth Valley but our own culture, and how the most privileged among us so often ignore the misery of those outside our own walls.
As entreating and creepy as it is timely and humane ... The social critique is always there, but it never gets in the way of the action or interferes with Langan's storytelling, which here is full of strangeness that borders on horror ... The darkness and critiques here make for a great read, but it's the humanity with which Langan portrays Linda that makes this dark thriller a must read.
Blending suspense, tragedy, and flashes of comedy, Langan keeps her cards close to the vest as the Farmer-Bowens’ perfect escape morphs into a sinister trap. This deeply disturbing tale will keep readers up at night.
