Scan barcode
oceanwriter's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
When her well-known husband is found dead, Paris Peralta is the obvious suspect. Though she knows she's innocent, she's less worried about the murder charge itself than she is about having her face in the media. This isn't the first time she's been in the wrong place at the wrong time.
With an alternating timeline and POV, we also meet Drew, a true crime podcaster who inevitably comes across Paris' story. We don’t hear as much from his side, but it brings the story together as it alternates from past to present. However, I don't think the book necessarily needed his storyline, either. We don't learn too much about him.
What I enjoyed most were the backstories even though the topics were heavy. Paris and Ruby in particular were well-fleshed out. Where the active thrill is lacking, the characters make up for it. That's not to say there's no element of suspense, only that where a lot of what's being told is in the past tense, we know on some level how things end. The characters made it for me. I enjoyed it a lot.
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Murder, Pedophilia, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Dementia, Rape, Blood, and Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Abortion
mekowaletti's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault
humanpuke's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Child abuse
Minor: Fire/Fire injury and Death
hannahga's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
Moderate: Sexual assault, Rape, Pedophilia, Racism, Murder, Suicide, Death, and Blood
bookswithabbey1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence, Pedophilia, Child abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Physical abuse, Murder, Sexual assault, and Emotional abuse
greenclovers75's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Child abuse
Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Murder
martachbc's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Murder, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Rape, Pedophilia, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, and Physical abuse
Minor: Drug use
savvyrosereads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Paris Peralta wakes up covered in blood next to her husband’s dead body, but her arrest threatens to reveal the secrets she has spent years trying to hide.
I read this as part of Love Struck Thrills Book Club and found it to be enjoyable overall. It wasn’t particularly “thrilling” (shoutout to Britni (@bitty_gets_litty on Insta) for characterizing it as a “crime drama” which I think is the best descriptor) but I was generally entertained for the entire book and that does go a long way. The characters were well-written and I thought the writing style was pretty engaging—I’ll definitely be checking out other Hillier novels.
That said, the plot was ultimately pretty predictable and I felt a bit “meh” about this one as a whole—I didn’t actively dislike it, but I wouldn’t quite say I actively liked it, either. Still, if you want a quick (and pretty dark) mystery read, this is probably worth a shot!
Recommended if you like: nonlinear stories with lots of flashbacks; slow burn mysteries; detailed character portraits
CW: Child abuse, including sexual abuse; murder/blood/gore; some discussion of depression/suicide/substance abuse; fire/fire injury.
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Rape, Suicide, Sexual violence, and Sexual assault
books_in_badgerland's review against another edition
5.0
“She was familiar with that smile; she’d seen it too many times. It was the smile monsters wore when they were pretending they weren’t monsters.” Eww.
Based on these two quotes, I can tell this book would be a hit for me.
I see why everyone raves about Jennifer Hillier. Wow! This book is hard to describe without giving too much away. The timeline shifts between past and present to discuss multiple deaths and some incredibly complex family dynamics. I love Hillier’s writing style! I felt sad, mad, creeped out, and satisfied at the end. I can’t wait to read more of her books! (5⭐️)
⚠️ Child abuse, physical/mental/emotional abuse, gaslighting, and I’m sure more.
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
jhenry's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury