Pearson’s rich debut murder mystery gathers potency from its portrait of middle-aged millennial angst and Y2K-era misogyny ... The plot is solidly constructed but not quite exceptional. Where Pearson shines is in her palpable evocation of both decades, and her rendering of the challenges Joy and Karlie face as women.
Pearson’s debut is less a thriller than a loosely woven web of character sketches, several of which are only minimally related to either Karlie’s demise or Joy’s investigation. While this approach allows Pearson to paint nuanced portraits of would-be bit players... it also leaves Joy and Karlie somewhat underdeveloped, diminishing the book’s stakes and throttling its drive. An abrupt, almost arbitrary ending does further disservice ... Artful but unsatisfying.
