Bartz calls upon psychology and technology as Lindsay, whose profession is research and fact-checking, uncovers the truth. A riveting debut with, yes, an echo of The Girl on the Train.
Debut author Bartz pens a captivating psychological suspense novel full of moving pieces and is expertly paced. The tension is unmatched as the pieces fall into place, but not without the protagonist second-guessing herself...This whip-smart and mysterious read is perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins.
Debut author Bartz pens a captivating psychological suspense novel full of moving pieces and is expertly paced. The tension is unmatched as the pieces fall into place, but not without the protagonist second-guessing herself ... This whip-smart and mysterious read is perfect for fans of Gillian Flynn and Paula Hawkins.
For the reader, wading through Lindsay’s obsessive and frequently awkward efforts to track down the truth behind Edie’s death can be tedious, especially as there’s little respite from her single-minded pursuit. Though the pace picks up at the end, readers may have lost patience with the story, and its protagonist, by then.
Bartz has written a novel that is as much a portrait of post-recession Brooklyn hipster ennui as it is a thriller; unfortunately, it’s also a reminder of how insufferable hipsters could be. It’s hard to tell if Bartz wants readers to take Lindsay’s and her friends’ 'like'-peppered speech and emotional immaturity as pointed social commentary or as genuine characterization. Equally problematic is Bartz’s near-constant reliance on exposition through dialogue, even at the novel’s climax; it weighs what should be a zippy plot down like an anchor ... Readers nostalgic for Pabst Blue Ribbons and Molly-fueled ragers should enjoy the world Bartz creates here; those looking for a terse thriller might turn elsewhere.
