I love a good, twisty thriller. One that makes you suspect every character for different reasons and leaves you guessing right to the end. With Holly Jackson's literary resume (A Good Girls Guide to Murder, in particular) I couldn't wait to read this one. The premise of a missing woman returning from the 'dead' and the impacts on her family all through the eyes of the daughter left at the scene of the crime was superb. It only half lived up to the expectation. Overall, I loved the premise, the writing was spot on, and the ability to have you questioning every single character was done excellently. I didn't trust Rachel at all, thinking her a fake, a liar, complicit along with the suspicions of Bel, the MC and daughter. I literally thought every person was behind it, from the dad, to the aunt and uncle, and even the documentary director at one point. The whole web was spun wonderfully, and the ending...some of it was obvious, but some of it...wow. Unfortunately, it was overshadowed by how deeply unlikable the MC was. Bel was probably supposed to come across as a sullen teenager, but she instead came across as nothing short of a bitch. Just a horrible person, through and through who was mean for sport. No amount of 'family trauma' could ease the sour taste she left for me as a reader, which undid a lot of the good qualities of the book. I still love this writer and will continue to read her work, but in the future I hope she doesn't repeat a character like Bel.
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