Well, I've read previous books by Heidi Perks which I thoroughly enjoyed, so when I saw her name on the cover as an auto-approved author, I jumped at the chance to read this psychological thriller that left me with complex feelings.

Firstly, this book moves really fast, with different timelines focusing on two main characters: Erin, 34, happily married, a stay-at-home mom taking care of her three-year-old daughter, Sadie, and working on children's fantasy books; and Maggie, a marriage counselor, happily married to Richard with no kids, and dealing with a problematic relationship with her mother since her little sister Lily's murder twenty years ago.

The opening with Erin's hit-and-run accident that puts her in a medically induced coma in the middle of nowhere after midnight raises suspicions about her motives. It's an intriguing and hooking beginning that drags you in right from the first chapter.

Then we see snippets of Erin's marriage to Will, including how they celebrate Valentine's Day. Will's surprise gift creates a weird and repulsive reaction in Erin, especially when he touches her neck to put the pendant on her. Erin becomes convinced that her husband is involved in her dog Coco's disappearance. Her husband's behavior seems to change in an instant, and she begins to suspect him even though she has no concrete proof.

Their communication stalls, and they can barely stand each other's presence. They decide to see a marriage counselor, Maggie, who also has her own baggage related to her sister's murderer. During their sessions, Erin drops a bombshell that implies a connection between her husband and Lily's murder. Maggie can't believe what Erin is suggesting. Could her clients be connected to a twenty-year-old murder?

As the story progresses, Erin remains in a coma, her husband is agitated, and Maggie is nowhere to be found. The police start investigating the hit-and-run incident, and Erin's estranged parents arrive at the hospital, making things even more complicated.

Did someone try to kill Erin? Could Erin and Will be connected to Lily's murder case? And where the hell is Maggie?

The pacing of the book and its short, action-packed, heart-pounding chapters are the highlights, but I still have some reservations about giving it four stars, even though I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting.

Firstly, both of the heroines are quite unlikable. Erin starts making remarks about her husband out of nowhere, which even makes her best friend question her credibility. I even thought there might be a supernatural explanation for her behavior, like Erin being possessed by Lily's ghost seeking revenge, to fill the plot holes in a different way. Unfortunately, this is not a paranormal thriller, so my conspiracy theory is out of the question.

Maggie is a neutral character I didn't connect with much, and in the second half, I found myself wanting to punch her. She really rubbed me the wrong way.

The conclusion is good but not perfect. There is an explanation for Erin's changing moods, but I didn't fully buy it, as the outcomes aren't as fair for all the characters.

Overall, this book is still an exciting page-turner and heart-pounding popcorn read. You won't get bored for a second, flipping the pages faster to find out the resolution of the big mysteries. However, the characterization and the reasoning behind the characters' actions felt strained and far-fetched, making it challenging for me to fully believe in the story. There are still unanswered questions in my mind that prevented me from fully enjoying the execution.

I'm still looking forward to reading more works by the author, but I have to admit I didn't enjoy this book as much as her previous ones.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Erin & Will are a troubled couple who seek out therapy to save their marriage. During the sessions, therapist Maggie uncovers secrets pertaining to her long missing sister. Maggie becomes obsessed with Erin & Will in order to find out what they know.

This book moves between the present where Erin has been in a hit and run accident and is currently in the hospital unconscious to the past where her life unravels and leads to the accident. It switches back and forth and the story unfolds throughout the book keeping you guessing as to what happens up until the end.

A few times I thought I knew what was going to happen but I was wrong!

This was a wonderful new thriller from Heidi Perks and my first read by this author but it definitely won't be my last.

Thank you NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Heidi Perks for the eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As a therapist, Maggie is aware that she has a responsibility to behave ethically, but her newest clients, husband and wife, Erin and Will, have her ready to push that boundary. Erin appears to know something about Maggie’s missing sister, but how? And if Erin knows something that will help Maggie find her sister, are ethics more important than finding out where she is? A tense cat and mouse thriller