Plenty of secrets to uncover in this book, which mixes a mystery with family drama and comes up with a good read. The author did a great job of painting a vivid picture of the setting, which will make it very appealing to readers who want to be taken away as they read.

This story captured me at the beginning. I love books with family secrets and mysteries. This was very well written and I had a hard time putting it down.
Many thanks to the author and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

After her father's funeral, Callie decides she wants to find out more about her long-deceased aunt, who was murdered 40 years previously, so she travels from Alabama to the town in Maine where Laverne died. Most of the town has secrets related to the events of the murder, and then a second woman is killed. This was pretty good. I wasn't hugely surprised by any of it, but that's kind of good because sometimes these books are obviously trying too hard to shock.

Callie Harris visits Alabama after her father’s funeral to try and make sense of her family history. Unravelling a forty-year-old murder, that has violent repercussion today, Callie has to confront secrets, lies and a bungled police investigation. Understanding her Aunt’s murder and the truth of her Uncle’s guilt, will have unforeseeable complications for the future. A combination murder mystery, small town life and the meaning of family are all part of this gentle intriguing saga. With thanks to NetGalley and the author for a preview copy for review purposes. With interesting characters as an enjoyable read a three-and-a-half-star rating.

Well, this wasn't exactly what I expected, but I stuck with it. Thank to Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I was not anticipating insta-romance, but that's what I got. Nothing against the genre, it's just really not for me. I don't know why, but I really struggle to suspend my disbelief that two people can know each other for three days, barely interact and yet, bam, she's saying "shhh" and pressing her fingers to his lips, the next day he takes her home to meet his mother, and they kiss. They literally just met!! I found the romantic scenes awkward and uncomfortable. But yeah, that's a reader issue. A lot of people are very into insta-romance, and that's totally ok, it's just not my thing, especially when I didn't expect it.
I also struggled with the writing. The prose was fine, for the most part, but I found the dialogue unnatural. Also, the use of "wanna" didn't really work, in my opinion.
The mystery itself was nice and straightforward, carefully constructed and fast moving. The solution felt believable. The small town setting was central, and it really did feel claustrophobic and creepy- Payton Place was name-dropped twice, and yeah, that was accurate. Small town people doing very bad things and doing whatever they can to keep those things a secret.
Overall, a pretty solid first novel, but I wasn't the right reader for it

Teresa Matthews takes the reader deep into the soil of Callie, her MC. Her writing is. exceptional. Callie Harris travels from her home in Alabama to her aunt’s former mansion in Maine to unravel a haunting forty-year-old mystery. Dr. Laverne Harris Doss’ death was brutal. She discovers there are more questions than answers. The police investigation was sloppy. The twists and turns of this story keep you guessing.
The dialogue helps pull you into the story and understand the characters. There are several flashbacks. that might be confusing for some readers. However, they provide you with insight into the setting and characters. I highly recommend this book for anyone who enjoys a good mystery. this is the first book I have read by Ms. Matthews. I definitely plan to read her other books.

Very slow paced book with too many characters to keep track of. There were several red herrings and the novel ended abruptly. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader.