Description
Her husband is missing. Visiting her family’s South Carolina estate, socialite Gray Godfrey wakes from a night out to an empty bed. Her husband Paul is gone and a thrashing hangover has wiped her memory clean. At first, she’s relieved for the break from her tumultuous marriage; perhaps Paul just needed some space. But when his car is found abandoned on the highway, Gray must face the truth: Paul is gone. And Gray may not want him found. Her life is unraveling. When a stranger named Annie calls claiming to know Paul’s whereabouts, Gray reluctantly accepts her help. But this ally is not what she seems: soon Annie is sending frightening messages and revealing disturbing secrets only Gray could know. As Annie’s threats escalate and Gray’s grip on reality begins to slip, the life she thought she had and the dark truth she’s been living begin to merge, leaving an unsettling question:What does Annie want? And what will she do to get it?
Review : 4.5 Stars
This was a hard to put down kind of a book. The one that you want to read in every free minute possible because it is so interesting and intriguing. It’s clear early on that Gray has an alcohol problem but Paul’s barbs and Gray’s behavior around him makes you suspect something sinister lurking. Maybe that’s just me after reading too many thrillers. Chapters 3 and 4 where we are introduced to Annie and Nina make you sit up and wonder where this book is going to take you. It does slow down a tad bit after that and some declarations make you wonder if this book is going to be as predictable as it seems, but keep at it, this one needs just a little patience so you can scratch the surface off and be dazzled by the plot.
I find it hard to believe that this is a debut novel! It’s written very well indeed. The subterfuge is brilliant. Who is Annie, what’s Charlotte’s role, what did the Kings do...so many questions that you must find answers to! The story is told from Detective Nina, Annie and Gray’s perspectives and each one adds more meaning to the book. The words ‘dysfunctional family’ take on a new meaning with the Kings. The characters and their relationships are not far fetched. They are believable and relatable. The story forces you through a roller coaster of emotions and you find yourself feeling intense emotions for the characters.
Mr. Vernon drives home the narrative by dealing with tough subjects around power, betrayal and survival. It is scary to read how a single detail can cause someone to unravel and spiral. It’s not the big events but instead a small detail within that event that can lead to pain, distrust and damage over the years.
The secrets build up a tad slowly but as the plot intensified it is very difficult to figure it all out. If you are the sort of the reader that quickly aligns to the person searching for answers in the plot, then in this case you’ll figure it out at the same time that Nina figures it out! I absolutely loved the epilogue. This is a book that you will enjoy right up to its last word. This book is a domestic psychological suspenseful thriller.
This book is a true thriller and I’d highly recommend it to everyone who likes suspense. I knocked off half a star because it was a bit of slow start that made me feel like this was an obvious book, making me want to almost give up on it! Very glad that I did not give up because just a few chapters later I was glued to the book.
Thank you Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
#NetGalley, #WhenYouFindMe
