Incredible writing, storyline, and character development
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (rounded up!)
Claire’s life is defined by a vacation when she was a young girl and her sister was murdered, found in the bottom of a lagoon on a small island near their resort. As an adult, Claire has moved away from home to NYC where she has tried creating a life for herself. However, when she takes a cab one day and realizes it’s the gentleman accused (and proclaimed innocent) of her sister’s murder, Clive, her entire world comes crashing down. Claire alters her entire existence to find out more about her sister’s unexplained death.
For months, Claire follows Clive seeking clues in his behaviors and routines that will convince her that he killed her sister.
“You see a mug shot on TV and think, ‘Him? But he has such a kind face. But his eyes are so gentle.’ Nannies drown children they cared for lovingly for years. Perfect couples become a husband who shot a wife. We see so little of people. We forget how much submerged darkness there is around us at every moment. We forget until we are forced to remember.”
In an attempt to learn the truth, Claire strikes an unlikely friendship with Clive. At the same time, she delves into the mysteries of her sister by listening to diary tapes Alison had created during the last few years of her life. Clive’s kindness and underlying sadness causes Claire to question her long-held beliefs of the man while Alison’s self absorption and judgment alters Claire’s idolization of her sister.
“In my parents’ version, Alison was buffed like a piece of sea glass, her edges and points worn away over time yielding to a pleasing smoothness.”
Will Claire learn the truth? If she does, can the truth bring her peace?
I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. The writing was exceptional (power through the first chapter written in present tense!!!) and I loved the various platforms and narrators used to convey the story. The characters were extremely well developed and it was effortless to form connections.
Thank you to BookishFirst and Celadon Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I look forward to more work by this talented author.
Claire’s life is defined by a vacation when she was a young girl and her sister was murdered, found in the bottom of a lagoon on a small island near their resort. As an adult, Claire has moved away from home to NYC where she has tried creating a life for herself. However, when she takes a cab one day and realizes it’s the gentleman accused (and proclaimed innocent) of her sister’s murder, Clive, her entire world comes crashing down. Claire alters her entire existence to find out more about her sister’s unexplained death.
For months, Claire follows Clive seeking clues in his behaviors and routines that will convince her that he killed her sister.
“You see a mug shot on TV and think, ‘Him? But he has such a kind face. But his eyes are so gentle.’ Nannies drown children they cared for lovingly for years. Perfect couples become a husband who shot a wife. We see so little of people. We forget how much submerged darkness there is around us at every moment. We forget until we are forced to remember.”
In an attempt to learn the truth, Claire strikes an unlikely friendship with Clive. At the same time, she delves into the mysteries of her sister by listening to diary tapes Alison had created during the last few years of her life. Clive’s kindness and underlying sadness causes Claire to question her long-held beliefs of the man while Alison’s self absorption and judgment alters Claire’s idolization of her sister.
“In my parents’ version, Alison was buffed like a piece of sea glass, her edges and points worn away over time yielding to a pleasing smoothness.”
Will Claire learn the truth? If she does, can the truth bring her peace?
I absolutely loved this book and could not put it down. The writing was exceptional (power through the first chapter written in present tense!!!) and I loved the various platforms and narrators used to convey the story. The characters were extremely well developed and it was effortless to form connections.
Thank you to BookishFirst and Celadon Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. I look forward to more work by this talented author.