I haven't read many mystery/crime thrillers, so I didn't know what to expect before reading this excerpt, but I was pleasantly surprised by how compelling it was. Ted is an intriguing character - you hope he's really innocent and that the true culprit is caught. Amanda is also an interesting character, and I wonder if the first book sheds more light on her. I loved that there's a podcast that is advocating for Ted's innocence and I wonder if that will play a large part in uncovering the truth. Although I may not read the first book in the series, I feel like I have to finish reading this book to find out what happens! The cover is what I'd expect from a book in this genre.