Hiiii. I'm back with a new read this February. I decided to go with a mystery thriller-book which had been sitting in my wish list for far too long. Took me about a week to read, what with work and school life getting in the way. I'm happy to say that I was very intrigued from the beginning to the end of this novel. I haven't read as many mystery-thriller books as I would like to, but I'm glad I gave this one a try! I hope to dive more into the genre in the future.
Synopsis: Chloe is a psychologist recovering from a traumatic past. Her father, having confessed to the crime of killing six young girls when she was younger, is behind bars. It has been difficult to regain a normal life as the memories of her childhood haunt her. Although she tries to maintain a regular lifestyle with her new fiancé, her past comes back to haunt her. Girls are going missing. All the surfacing facts reel her deeper and deeper into each of the cases, all eerily similar to the ones her father had confessed to twenty years ago. Is she simply going mad or is there something sinister unravelling much closer to her than she presumed?
Writing: 5/5
I really enjoyed the writing in this novel. All the scenes were very well detailed. What captured my fascination the most was how the author portrayed feelings. I could feel the panic rising in the throat of the main character as she tried her best to swallow it back down. The feeling of fear was so vividly described that I could see it in my head. Also, there was an understanding in the author's writing which really drew me in. There was a deep distrust of men mentioned throughout the book. It made such sense, not only because Chloe's own father was in prison for murder, but because Chloe was a woman. A woman who understands the difficulties of being one. The writing really enthralled me, and I applaud the author for being able to bring the reader into such a focused headspace as they read.
Dialogue: 4/5
"I have a darkness inside me". There were many eerie moments which were made all the more terrifying with good dialogue from the characters. I enjoyed the discussion between characters. I give it a four out of five because it was great dialogue, but not overly exceptional in other books I have read. But I enjoyed every bit of dialogue.
Characters: 5/5
The characters in this book definitely sewed the whole plot together perfectly. Everyone had their demons. Some had an easier time hiding them than others. Chloe was a fantastic character with moral intentions and reasonable flaws. Her whole life she had been judged on the actions of her father, and it was no wonder she always supposed people would dismiss her and fear for her sanity. But she continues striving to prove herself and her desire to help others in her career and elsewhere. I really enjoyed Daniel's character as well. He was the definition of a perfect boyfriend. A perfect man, if you will. Noticing the flashes of anger and overwhelming emotion in his dialogue and actions was entertaining and enthralling. I, as the reader, was questioning the truth behind him the entire book. Even Chloe's mother was cleverly written. Her role was major, no matter how small it might have seemed. She shaped the future of her children. Even after all that happened to her, she cared for Chloe and did her best to help her in any way she could. Her maternal love was heart touching. Cooper was also a terribly interesting character. Quiet, over protective, moody. There was something different about him from the very beginning. The father's character was captivating as well. The pieces of the puzzles never quite fit, and I could tell by the father's calm demeanor and protectiveness of his children that there was something deeper going on.
Plot: 5/5
The plot is what drove me to want to read this story, and I am very happy I got to it! I was intrigued the entire time. The author never lost sight of the plot throughout the novel. Every scene had a very serious importance. I also remember gasping audibly at a few of the scenes as well.
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
I loved this book. It was a good read! I was a bit scared the first time I read it late at night, and I was pleasantly surprised it was able to make me feel that way. The reason I give it a four out of five is because there weren't lasting affects. Although I very much enjoyed the book, I am calm with how it all ended. Oftentimes with a really good book, I find myself thinking about it for days after finishing. This is just my own opinion of course. I really enjoyed this novel and am excited to read more mystery-thriller novels in the future.
What are your thoughts?