Trace of Evil is atmospheric, slow-burn suspense with multiple layers and complexities.
Alice Blanchard perfectly captures the setting. I felt like I was there in rural upper state New York. The community intrigued me, as we pondered the question of how well we really know the people we've been around all our lives.
The plot is perhaps too broad-reaching for some readers. We have the possibility of a serial killer with "the missing 9," the murder of Natalie's sister decades ago, the current murder, and teenagers involved in witchcraft. While all these aspects eventually converge, the story can sometimes feel like it lacks focus. That being said, I had no problem following the threads, and I enjoyed putting the pieces together.
For the most part, the story has a strong sense of realism. Unfortunately, a detail in the prologue is blatantly false and I'm surprised the author and the editor didn't know better. Without giving any real spoilers, I'll just say that like most states in the US, New York has no statute of limitations on murder.
Trace of Evil is first book in a new series. I'm looking forward to spending more time in this community.
Alice Blanchard perfectly captures the setting. I felt like I was there in rural upper state New York. The community intrigued me, as we pondered the question of how well we really know the people we've been around all our lives.
The plot is perhaps too broad-reaching for some readers. We have the possibility of a serial killer with "the missing 9," the murder of Natalie's sister decades ago, the current murder, and teenagers involved in witchcraft. While all these aspects eventually converge, the story can sometimes feel like it lacks focus. That being said, I had no problem following the threads, and I enjoyed putting the pieces together.
For the most part, the story has a strong sense of realism. Unfortunately, a detail in the prologue is blatantly false and I'm surprised the author and the editor didn't know better. Without giving any real spoilers, I'll just say that like most states in the US, New York has no statute of limitations on murder.
Trace of Evil is first book in a new series. I'm looking forward to spending more time in this community.