Deepfakes and scandal and internet trolls, oh my!

The Wieland family knows tragedy, in fact through the years so many incidents have befallen them that there is said to be a curse upon the brood that takes place in April. Teddy and Clara and Teddy’s wife Jess are the latest generation to deal with life changing events that rock their world.

The three are living on a quiet Maine island called Vantage Point, inhabiting the expansive family property that has been in the home to Wielands for generations when an explosive video of Clara is leaked to the public. Chaos descends, and Clara becomes convinced the event captured never happened leading to a story full of twists and turns, dragging the nagging shadow of doubt.

This was a very well written story. The character descriptions are nuanced and layered. I found Clara to possess a haunting quality—she was supremely affected by her past experiences in a way that stunted her growth, kept her from maturing and moving forward. The inclusion of current technological trends wrapped up in a political race made for a unique tale that kept me interested, and, that ending, wow.

I recommend Vantage Point, especially if you’re interested in family dynasties and books with a technological storyline.

I received this free advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review and feedback.

The writing is sharp and the chapters alternate between Clara’s point of view and that of Jess’s, her best friend and sister-in-law. I never quite knew what to expect as I turned each page and was immersed in this exploration of technology (vs. reality), class, ambition, and misogyny.

The Wieland family has it all, money, fame, and fortune along with a deadly curse. Not every April, but always in April, members of the family die tragically. The current generation brother and sister are entering the month of April when things start to go horribly wrong. Is it the curse or is there another explanation for the happenings? Solid story that keeps you turning the pages.

I didn't have high expectations of this book after the first few pages. It was a little slow but I was determined to finish.As I read on it got better. I got invested in the characters. The idea that the author came up with about the method used by the " villain" was very unique. For the most part it was very well written. I did enjoy the ending..

Such a good read that I enjoyed! I'm so glad that I got the chance to read it early and will definitely be recommending it to multiple people who enjoy these types of novels. I enjoyed the characters and especially enjoyed the writing by this author. I'm excited to see what the author comes out with next as I'll definitely be reading it! Thank you to the publisher for my early copy of this book!

Thank you for the opportunity to review - I really enjoyed reading this, and found it engrossing. I'm curious if a tighter edit might make it even more zippy.

Growing up Rich always seems to have its consequences…. Oh and sure throw in a family curse while you’re at it.
Two friends that you toggle between “Vantage Points”. But when one friend married the others brother it changed the dynamics …. While the drama unfolds so does the mystery of who’s causing this chaos and why? Will anyone Rich take responsibility for things they don’t get that they feel entitled to?
While reading this book it brings up many questions in where our technology is going and how it can and will be used in the future of society.

OMG I loved this book. I was immediately intrigued by the storyline and the characters and wanted to know everything about their backgrounds and history. I wish the book had delved more into Jess’s background but overall I really really enjoyed it.

An intriguing premise, with full-formed characters that engage the reader. The setting is vivid, and I wish this was being released during the summer as the remote yet privileged coastal setting makes this a perfect recommendation for a beach read!

I wanted to like this, I really did. Overall, it was not a bad read. It just moved more slowly than I wanted it to and left what I felt like were important plot points unresolved or just blew over them. I thought the beginning of the novel through to the middle were well thought out and made sense. The characters were engaging and interesting. I'm not sure what happened with the last fourth or so of the book. It felt unfinished somehow and it felt as if the author was just ready to wrap things up and be done. I wish more explaining had been given and that plot points, like the cameras, had been more fleshed out instead of just swept under the rug at the end.

Overall, an ok summer read, but nothing outstanding here.

One of my favorite storylines is about rich people with big problems. Add a slice of politics to the mix, making a perfect cocktail. Clara and Teddy lost their parents in a tragic accident. As you can imagine, they have experienced significant trauma. Teddy is married to Clara's best childhood friend and a reluctant campaigner. Clara has dealt with her trauma through drinking and drugs. This is not good for the political campaign, which constantly tries to avoid controversy. This was an entertaining read that moved quickly.

This was such a thriller to read! Such a suspenseful downfall that made me glad to fall with it. It was so twisty and easy to read. I couldn’t put it down

The nature of reality and memory, the power of curses and superstitions, and the bonds that tie us together are explored in this taut, timely, and tense novel.

This advanced reader's copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

An arresting read about the illusions and the dangers of technology and how it can be used to the detriment of someone’s life and sanity. The Weilands are a rich powerful family. Teddy and Clara are all that are left after the “curse” claimed their parents years ago. That’s right. A family curse that comes around in April. When Teddy runs for a senate seat, videos surface of Clara in an intimate setting. She doesn’t remember filming them, but she’s struggled for years with eating disorders and addiction, so no one believes her that they may be fake. Are they? Or is she losing her grip on reality. Or is there something more sinister going on. Everybody has their secrets.

So different from anything I've ever read before! An excellent thriller that you won't be able to put down!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

I would first like to thank netgalley and MCB for the arc of this novel. This book definitely had me questioning my own thoughts whilst reading this.
While you would think Teddy and Clara had everything they could ever want while growing up, money, power, and popularity. Although when a tragedy strikes and they lose both their parents in a tragic accident that Clara had to witness. Clara unfortunately did not cope well and had some mental illnesses and someone took advantage of that. While her brother Teddy and best friend/Clara's best friend tries to help, the inadvertently sometimes make it worse. If you are looking for a mystery, thriller, who dunnit without a murder to solve this is it. The ending is perfect and this book will really make you rethink all that you think you know about this book and these characters. Even your own mind.

An affluent political family, deepfake technology, holograms and a famous family curse, what’s not to love? An utterly absorbing, unique, and intriguing look at the dramatic downfall of a wealthy family after deeply embarrassing videos emerge of each of them, turning a political career into turmoil and raising questions about the line between public-private personas and the nature of truth-fake news in our digital age. Clever, stylish and sinister.

Sara Sligar has surpassed herself! I did not want to put this sophisticated thriller down!

The characters in Sligar's first novel, <u>Take Me Apart</u> brought to mind Bronte's <u>Wuthering Heights</u> - complete with Sligar's own version of a broody, foul-tempered Heathcliff.

In <u>Vantage Point,</u> there is still a ton of passion steaming below and above the surface, but you have to wonder if Jess is the straight-shooter that she appears to be, and why Clara is so self-destructive - drug abuse and an eating disorder are just a few of her out of control vices) And then there is every romance novelist"s idyllic, ruggedly handsome (not to mention rich!) hero, Teddy... hmmmm!

No spoilers here, but of course, very few of the characters were who they appeared to be. Even Clara surprised me at the very end: who knew she had that in her?!!!

This is a riveting read and well worth the time and effort you will have to put in to untangle the sticky web of ambition, deceit and misdirection shrouding this hapless family.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC of this very well written novel in exchange for an honest review.

A dark exploration of modern day sci fi, Vantage Point is clunkier with its characters than with its themes, but it still manages to be a deft story about revenge porn, consent, AI, deep fakes, hologram technology, and digital clones, as well as abusive relationships and the power of the truth.

Vantage Point is not just a thriller; it’s a page-turner that expertly balances suspense with deep emotional insights. Sligar’s writing is engaging and accessible, making the novel a compelling read from start to finish. Whether you’re a fan of family dramas, political thrillers, or psychological suspense, this book will not disappoint.