This is a great story but the characters are so annoying and unlikable, making empathy for the victims pretty tough to achieve. The plot is a classic and really well executed. This author does detail well and can make the scenes seem very real. The dialogue is also strong and I find he does a terrific job in bringing all characters to life, whether they be annoying teenage girls or scheming middle aged men.

A slight twist at the end but overall I felt this book walked you into the possibilities of the ending. No major shocking twist at the end. I did appreciate that it was a quick, easy read.

Nina is living with her partner Gary and his teenage daughter Chloe. When a teenage boy shows up claiming to be the son she gave up as a pregnant teenager Nina is overjoyed.

The story moves along quickly but I found that I didn't care for any of the characters and really didn't like the ending.

Rating: ★★★

Interesting premise and a fun plot made for an enjoyable read. I breezed through it in one sitting, so it certainly does not lack any thrill promised from such a mystery. However, the characters felt a bit flat and lacked any standout qualities that would have made me truly connect with them. This made the read feel a little stagnant and unemotional, which was slightly odd considering the emotional stakes of the story as a whole. The epilogue provided a satisfying conclusion to the whole story, rounding off the whole thing with a gut punch. Overall, a decent book, but unlikely to warrant a second read.