RaveLibrary JournalTurton has created a complex world and characters in a page-turner centered on what it means to be human and whether those qualities are worth preserving. There is very real suspense as the clock runs down on Emory’s investigation, plus true emotional depth in the struggles she and her fellow survivors face.
Ela Lee
PositiveLibrary JournalA thoughtful, unflinching examination of all of the ways in which women (especially women of color) conform to fit others’ expectations, how damaging that can be, and the empowerment of subverting constraints.
Ivy Pochoda
RaveLibrary JournalPochoda’s evocation of the Old West with a couple of desperados on the run is flawlessly executed with each gritty page in this contemporary thriller, but she goes a step further in allowing the rage of her female protagonists to take center stage.
Brendan Slocumb
PositiveLibrary JournalSlocumb, a former principal violinist and concertmaster, manages a delicate balance in his debut ... This novel brings an unflinching eye to the sometimes-cutthroat world of classical music, its very white culture, and the challenges a talented young Black violinist might face in that world. But in Ray, a man who strives toward honor and kindness despite the racist acts (some of them violent) he endures, the story also finds its heart. Strongly recommended.
Chevy Stevens
PositiveLibrary JournalAs Beth delves into the locals\' secrets, her life and Hailey\'s collide to explosive effect ... Though dark and foreboding, none of the violence here is gratuitous and the strength and resilience shown by Stevens\'s female characters offers leavening moments of heart and hope. For fans of Karin Slaughter and Lisa Gardner.
Kaitlyn Greenidge
PositiveLibrary Journal... Greenidge\'s second novel...is a richly detailed and well-researched work of historical fiction. Centering her narrative on the lives of Black women, she explores issues of racism, colorism and misogyny in lyrical and lovely prose.
Kathleen West
PositiveLibrary JournalThough the characterizations sometimes come a little too close to caricature, West has expertly captured the high school culture of today in a novel that is at times cringe-worthy and eventually hopeful. Readers of Amy Poeppel’s Small Admissions and Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies will want this one.
Tom Bradby
RaveLibrary JournalBradby uses current-day political fears to great effect in this new spy thriller ... Bradby’s journalistic and screenwriting background is fully evident, as the story is well researched, compellingly complicated, and perfectly paced. Fans of Stella Rimington and Olen Steinhauer will love this offering.
Beatriz Williams
PositiveLibrary JournalLulu and [Thorpe\'s mother] Elfriede\'s stories are built piece by piece, and while the plotting is a bit of a slow burn, Williams\'s deft hand with characterization and emotionally connective storytelling pays off for readers in big ways. Recommended.
Stuart Turton
RaveBook Verdict\"Turton\'s debut is skillfully done. He expertly manages the many moving parts of the plot while taking readers ever deeper into the story. Recommended.\
Julia Heaberlin
RaveLibrary JournalWhat do you do with a criminal who has escaped justice and now has dementia? Carl Feldman—a documentary photographer now residing in an assisted-living facility—may be just such a person ... a tense, gripping read with a cat-and-mouse game that will keep readers riveted.
