umping between Katie’s flashbacks and the present day, Schumann crafts a powerfully compelling story of family loyalties, teenage friendships, and the fickleness of memory. Timely and provocative, this first novel will appeal to fans of Lianne Moriarty, Paula Hawkins, and Jenna Blum.
Schumann’s debut novel brings a new perspective to sexual assault and how it affects families, with Katie’s story resonating with issues in today’s society ... Flashbacks to the past are intertwined with the narrative, and the slow reveal of detail will leave readers wanting more. With a surprise twist, this work is sure to please. For fans of Jodi Picoult.
Katrin Schumann tells a riveting story, keeping the reader engaged and ever on track through frequent shifts from past to present, as determined by Katie’s associative train of thought ... Along with the protagonist and her elusive father John, the main characters are believably fleshed out as they attempt to support or mislead Katie in her pursuit of the truth ... Schumann has an eye for detail, an ear for the rhythmical sentence, and a voice that is clear and resonant ... There are, however, moments of over-writing, where the author strains, not to sound clever or funny, but 'writerly' ... At times the novel seems almost to work against itself in piling on the detail ... If at times it could labor less and leave the reader with more to do, it’s still a compelling read by an accomplished writer.
chumann’s is a carefully-constructed novel that skillfully weaves past and present, slowly planting clues that help unlock the narrative’s central mystery while ratcheting up tension. Though the prose is often plain, the fast-moving plot and compelling, layered characters make for an addictive and incredibly timely read ... A page-turner that also speaks to broader questions of sexual abuse, family loyalty, and the mutability of memory.
