This story has an interesting concept in that we know who the killers are, but the central mystery is why they killed. Unfortunately, the writing just didn’t live up to expectations. If you’re going to set a story in the U.S., make sure you have the temperature in Fahrenheit. How everyone missed that, I can’t understand. Not a big deal, but an example of the level of editing applied. So, the central characters are Nick, Emmy, and Pete, close friends in the town of Savage Ridge accused of murdering a classmate but never convicted. Said classmate is Sammy Saint John, an entitled wealthy jerk who apparently deserved it, but we don’t know why. Besides the fact that the Saint John family runs the small Pacific Northwest town to an exaggerated degree. The story is set partially in the past and partially now, ten years later, when they’re manipulated into returning by the most cliché PI ever.

Another example of bad writing – not only is she the typical female badass (shaved hair, tattoos, dresses in black, etc.) but any decent PI would NEVER draw attention to themselves by looking like that. EVER. And it’s exactly her looks that get her recognized by Emmy as the woman who piqued her interest in returning home. Any plain woman who blends in would never have been recognized and not have blown her cover as the same PI chasing them down now. It’s just ridiculous. So anyway, she’s working for the Saint Johns trying to get the three of them to admit to the murder. The story is mainly about her following them and them trying to hold it together and not break down from guilt, confessing their crime. And the reader is thinking just get to the end already and tell us what happened.

And therein lies another issue. I can’t spoil it, but a huge part of the murder isn’t introduced until like 82% into the story. What?? You can’t do that to readers, just throwing in a major plot point that late! Ugh. But anyway, had more of that been revealed earlier, I’d say it was a satisfying conclusion that had parts you won’t see coming. Because I did like the climax, but it ended too abruptly after that. An epilogue would have been nice and filled out the resolution more.

Anyway, if the aforementioned issues were tweaked a bit, it would improve the book immensely. I unfortunately just can’t recommend it otherwise.

I loved this quick read and felt it was very atmospheric and had enough twists and turns to keep you guessing

The Saint John family is notorious in Savage Ridge, Washington and ten years ago one of its members met a tragic end when Sammy Saint John was killed by his high school classmates Nick Pips, Emmy Nailer and Pete Sachs. His body was never found and they got away clean. They swore never to come back to Savage Ridge, but, of course, they stupidly do, tricked into it by private investigator Sloane Yo who wants them to pay for their crime. Why did they kill Sammy? Will they be caught?

The book is told in alternating then and now sections. It’s set in the U.S. but there are some British spellings and temperature is given in Celsius. One portion of the secret requires a bit of suspension of disbelief, but there’s a very nice twist. Enjoyable.

I had a lot of fun reading this. The twists and turns just kept coming and I love that in a book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this ARC.

Thanks to Canelo and NetGalley for this ARC. Fairly enjoyable. Quick and easy read. Very atmospheric. Recommend for a different kind of domestic suspense.

I gave this a DNF mainly because the characters, and I mean all of them, were just not interesting.
The development of the young versions should have been built on. Instead we are quickly transported ten years later with an abruptness that belies a known outcome.

Another bothersome premise is that Savage Ridge is not a real place. I know this is intentional but if you are going to use Lake Kachees and the Okanogan National Forest as real places, then do the same with your towns. Use the town of Chelan, or better yet Similkameen. Kettle Falls?

Three high school students kill a fourth schoolmate, then make a pact never to reveal the details of what happened, and leave town. Years later, although they are unaware of it, they have been drawn back to the scene of the crime by the private investigator hired by the family of the dead child.

But rich and influential, the family have their own secrets to hide - and the PI has only been told part of the story...

This book provides a probing look behind the surface of small town life and the secrets that often lie deeply buried therein. There are times when some secrets may even hide in plain sight, but because people are so used to living with these unspoken understandings, they fade from their consciousness, gradually becoming invisible.

This is a well written novel, which also delivers some acute insights into human nature. The story is compellingly told and worth a read.