... riveting ... masterfully told in different voices from a well-developed cast of characters. Police officer Pearl Maze is worthy of her own series. Fans of Megan Abbott and Wendi Corsi Staub will relish this one.
Gaylin deftly pries into the challenges of parenthood, the hidden lives of teenagers, and the cruelties that hide behind the idyllic facade of small-town life while also maintaining unrelenting tension. The narrative is told from four perspectives, each with a distinct voice and emotional depth and all trying to understand what happened that fateful night. Though the plot and characters are skillfully managed, the story wraps up quickly after the big reveal and may be unsatisfying to readers who want all their loose threads to be fully fleshed out ... Verdict Gaylin’s skillful balance of tension and intimacy will appeal to fans of psychological and domestic suspense, and the questions she raises about parents, children, and bullying have rich potential for book clubs.
... an absorbing, addictive tale of psychological suspense ... a powerful portrayal of a broken family in crisis ... a triumph of sophisticated, stylized storytelling. Though the fractured family is an age-old write of passage, Gaylin—whose finger always seems to be on the pulse of societal stressors—infuses the topic with absolute immediacy. Absorbing characters, myriad plot twists, and pertinent themes elevate this work beyond genre confines, which is altogether fitting of an author who continues to reach new heights.
... insightful ... Well-fleshed-out characters each share their own separate agendas and back stories. Many viewpoints express their stance on the matter of Liam's death along with a troubled young man who is thwarted by hurtful social media that convicts without all the facts. A true taste of how enmeshed in social media we have become.
This is a multi-layered tale that will keep you guessing, and guessing again. Every single character has something to hide and some of the revelations, when they come, are pretty shocking ... Former celebrity tabloid journalist Gaylin is garnering a growing reputation for kickass psychological thrillers ... slick, smart and surprising, with sinuous twists and turns.
... maximizes suspense by forcing readers to guess at Wade’s thoughts and actions, allowing Gaylin to insightfully explore the crime’s ripple effects ... This anxiety-fueled stand-alone from Edgar nominee Gaylin takes the gulf that naturally develops between teenagers and their families and stocks it with sharks.
... moving, character driven ... Though the fast-paced plot takes a few implausible final twists, the novel’s lasting impact comes from its indelible portrait of people in crisis.
