Reading this brilliantly composed novel was humbling. From the first page to the last I was transported into the world created by the author. I forgot to eat, walk the dogs and charge my phone. From the idyllic fantasy island of Saint X to the real streets of Brooklyn, NY, where I grew up, I needed to know how the lives of these characters would turn out and especially if Emily (nee Claire) would be okay.
When Claire is but a child her sister is murdered on a family vacation and the truth of that night is never revealed to the family. Her family lives each day thinking they are moving on but never really dealing with the pain and the loss of that night. After college Claire, who now uses her middle name Emily, runs into Clive one of the men accused of killing her sister but let go for lack of evidence. Claire becomes obsessed with him. It turns out they live near each other so she follows him everyday hoping he will slip up and she will be able to prove he is a killer.
Throughout the book we learn how Alison's murder affects so many lives from her family, friends, other guests on Saint X, even the media. The author delicately shows how the loss of one life has repercussions for so many others.
This book is so much more than a murder mystery or psychological thriller. It is written with such care and depth for the people and situation. It is a literary debut that will be heralded as pure brilliance for a long time to come.
I received a free copy of this book from BookishFirst & publisher Celadon Books for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
When Claire is but a child her sister is murdered on a family vacation and the truth of that night is never revealed to the family. Her family lives each day thinking they are moving on but never really dealing with the pain and the loss of that night. After college Claire, who now uses her middle name Emily, runs into Clive one of the men accused of killing her sister but let go for lack of evidence. Claire becomes obsessed with him. It turns out they live near each other so she follows him everyday hoping he will slip up and she will be able to prove he is a killer.
Throughout the book we learn how Alison's murder affects so many lives from her family, friends, other guests on Saint X, even the media. The author delicately shows how the loss of one life has repercussions for so many others.
This book is so much more than a murder mystery or psychological thriller. It is written with such care and depth for the people and situation. It is a literary debut that will be heralded as pure brilliance for a long time to come.
I received a free copy of this book from BookishFirst & publisher Celadon Books for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.