Member Reviews

Reviewed for NetGalley:

The premise was great, beautiful cover.

However, I could not get into the author’s style of writing. Wasn’t for me.

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I requested this book because I loved the cover and I’m glad I did. This is a slower paced thriller so if that’s your type of thriller, then definitely pick this up. It was interesting and I love to know backstory and history of characters so I really enjoyed this book.

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A slow-burn thriller written from the perspectives of an ex-ballet dancer and a detective. I thought this was well written and I could tell this was thoroughly researched. However I didn't feel super connected with the case of like I was on the edge of my seat filled with suspense. Maybe this should be categorised as something different as the story wasn't bad but it didn't blow me away as a thriller.

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I love the title and cover of this book and really wanted to like it, but it was not for me. I found the beginning a bit slow and nothing held my attention enough for it to be suspenseful. I would recommend this for lovers of mystery/suspense books that are slower paced, and fans of Terri Parlato. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

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I enjoyed this murder investigation mystery; the hook was immediate, the research was thorough, and the writing was well done. I wouldn’t necessarily categorize it as a thriller, as I wasn’t particularly at the edge of my seat, but the plot held my attention. The book is written from two point of views, Esme and Rita. My one complaint is that they were both written in first person, though the chapters switched off, that made it a bit confusing and very necessary to pay close attention.

With an injury that ended her ballet career, Esme returns to her small hometown to live with her father and brother. Her father turned to alcohol after the death of her mother and has deteriorated into the late stages of hepatic cirrhosis. Her brother blames her for her long absence away from their family. As Esme arrives home, a former childhood friend is found murdered on her father’s property. Here the povs begin to switch back and forth from Esme to Rita.

Rita is the detective on the case, older, single, and lonely, she spends a majority of her time working on this case. As Rita sifts through MANY suspects a lot of buried past rises to the surface. Esme rekindles friendships from high school and has a few interesting run-ins with her neighbors. As she examines the night of her mother’s death, she makes some connections between possible suspects and the accident. These links seem a bit loose and do not fully develop as the author may have intended.

However, the twist was very interesting. I would add that it was a bit unexpected especially as each suspect is subsequently ruled out. I would not say the twist was extremely riveting, but the author did tie up some loose ends connecting past and present murders/deaths.

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The title is intriguing. A title with the word “woods” grabs the reader’s attention. It did mine. This book does not disappoint with murder and mayhem. This talented author has written a page turner. The characters are realistic and keep the story moving quickly. Esme has come home only to discover her best friend is dead. Esme’s brother has been caring for their dying father. The dynamics of this family are not the best. The red herrings keep the reader guessing. The images linger. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the author and publisher.

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Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, intrigue, murder, mystery, A crazy mixed up who done it, and a few crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

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I couldn't click with the writing style of this book, and I didn't realize just how much of the narrative would be told from a cop's POV, so this was a DNF for me, unfortunately. I'm sure others will appreciate it.

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Heart pounding thriller that left me on the edge of my seat. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one. Definitely one of the best books this year.

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