Not What She Seems combines so many aspects of thrillers that I love: small-town settings, an unlikely protagonist slowly unraveling a mystery, and long-held secrets. Unfortunately, this was one of those instances where the book is great, but not a fit for me. I couldn't connect with the writing style. but I'm confident that there are many, many readers out there who will enjoy this story.

Are you ready for your next thriller? Not What She Seems maybe the book for you. This was a good thriller/mystery that kept me turning pages until the very end.

This is a very slow burn, that ticks up in pace with each flick of the page. The characters are fully flawed and raw. The small-town vibe of Brooke Haven, South Carolina is fully fleshed out. Everyone knows your business and the grapevine is in full use. I love the Brodie family and their roots are deep in Brooke Haven.

Jacinda Brodie is in Washington D.C. Knowing her life is about to change with her acceptance into Fellows Program. Her body is buzzing with anticipation as she opens the email. Only to be struck down. How...How did she not get in? When she discovers who inserted the doubt into the board, she saw red and decided to blow up her life. At the same time, she gets a phone call from home hearing the worst news possible. That her grandfather is in the hospital. She has not stepped back into Brooke Haven since she left for college. You as the reader are given a bit of information here and there. She was there the night her father died and everyone believes she had something to do with it. Regardless of all of her feelings she needs to get back to see her grandfather. The town she left, is not the town she returns to.

I loved the buildup of suspense to that ending where everything is exposed. I was on pins and needles as I plowed through. The murder house added that extra mystery for me. Thank you to Yasmin Angoe, Thomas and Mercer, and Over the River PR for my gifted finished copy for this fantastic read.

Not What She Seems can be said of several characters in the novel, and this unreliability gives it its suspense and unexpected twists, with certain secrets revealed at the explosive, wonderfully mind-bending end.

The flawed characters have my heart, especially Jac, who returns to her hometown after a family tragedy. Facing judgment and digging up dangerous truths, she risks her safety to protect her family. Her combination of sassiness, self-doubt and rash choices made her very real to me, and I found myself cheering her on and fearing for her throughout.

I’d love to see this on screen, because the author’s descriptive powers put me right in the scene, with all the darkness, suspense, and yes, even the smidge of romance. With the Knight series, I was an Angoe fan. Now I’m a fanatic. Grab this book immediately.

Jacinda “Jac” Brodie is back! She is thought to have killed her father and is shamed by his death. But when her grandfathers calls from his death bed, she is forced back to South Carolina. Upon her return, she finds that her small town of
Brook Haven is quite a bit different. Jac thinks that newcomers Faye Anderson might be behind these changes and have more sinister plans. But Jac needs to be careful of what secrets she unturns - the safety of her family is at stake! #thomasmercer #notwhatsheseems #yasminangoe