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julielb's review
3.0
I enjoyed this book. It was an easy read and intriguing.
It begins from p.o.v. of Mallory Hansen who is owner of art gallery and married to attorney Nathan, who was a college friend. Their life is good, uncomplicated and comfortable until one evening at a neighborhood book club gathering, Malory has a strange introduction to a new participant. She apologizes that she has to do her job but nothing personal. Mallory learns she is HR director at the law firm her husband works for.
Confused and irritated with Nathan’s apparent lies, Mallory storms home to confront Nathan who reveals he has been suspended because a subordinate has accused him of sexual harassment. He is adamant in his denial but Mallory feels a twinge of doubt based on Nathan’s pretty boy looks and behavior in his college days 15 years ago.
Soon the story takes a turn as it seems that not only Nathan has been targeted but also it seems every one of the group of friends from college, as each experiences some kind of accusation or threatening event.
Investigating these cases along with disappearance of Nathan’s accuser is DI Tom and his team. I guess this is book 11 in the series but you don’t need to have read earlier books in series to enjoy this one. And tbh, I found some of the chapters from the investigation team disrupted flow of the mysteries surrounding the group of six.
All in all a god solid read and I recommend the book and author.
It begins from p.o.v. of Mallory Hansen who is owner of art gallery and married to attorney Nathan, who was a college friend. Their life is good, uncomplicated and comfortable until one evening at a neighborhood book club gathering, Malory has a strange introduction to a new participant. She apologizes that she has to do her job but nothing personal. Mallory learns she is HR director at the law firm her husband works for.
Confused and irritated with Nathan’s apparent lies, Mallory storms home to confront Nathan who reveals he has been suspended because a subordinate has accused him of sexual harassment. He is adamant in his denial but Mallory feels a twinge of doubt based on Nathan’s pretty boy looks and behavior in his college days 15 years ago.
Soon the story takes a turn as it seems that not only Nathan has been targeted but also it seems every one of the group of friends from college, as each experiences some kind of accusation or threatening event.
Investigating these cases along with disappearance of Nathan’s accuser is DI Tom and his team. I guess this is book 11 in the series but you don’t need to have read earlier books in series to enjoy this one. And tbh, I found some of the chapters from the investigation team disrupted flow of the mysteries surrounding the group of six.
All in all a god solid read and I recommend the book and author.
hlwilkins's review against another edition
5.0
Another Tom Douglas book (11th I think) and another 1 I love. I love the series as its cuts to the chase pretty quickly, excellent page-turning crime thrillers which are easy to devour.
I think I had 3 or 4 different guesses at the reveal (including the one it actually was) but it was cleverly written to keep me changing my mind.
Spoilers ahead, I like to summarise the plot for my own reference.
15 years ago 6 x 18-year-old friends venture to their favorite outdoor spot to play a game of 'Badger' before they all head off to uni etc. The friends are Nate, Mallory, Taya, Akin, Connor, and Jodie. A girl called Erin follows them (she is obsessed with Nate) and the friends are annoyed that she has become part of their last night. They trick Jodie into hiding as the Badger to get rid of her but when she doesn't return they go to look for her. They don't find her and her car has disappeared so they think she has left.
15 years later, they're not a group of friends anymore and have pretty much all gone their separate ways except for Nate and Mallory who are now a couple. Mallory is the only one to have a first-person narrative. Each of the 6 becomes wrapped up in a crime either as a victim or accused.
Nate - accused of sexual assault by a junior in his law firm (Gabi)
Mallory - set up and accused of Gabi's murder
Taya - her baby is kidnapped and then returned to her the child is holding a badger teddy bear
Akin - caught on CCTV leaving money for Gabi (the police believe is bribe money)
Jodie - Is raped
Connor - is accused of the rape as his hat was at the scene of the crime
The twist - Jodie had killed Erin when they were teenagers as Erin told her she was pregnant with Nate's child. Jodie was also in love with Nate so in frustration pushed Erin and accidentally killed her, hiding her body in the lake. She doesn't tell the others and lets them believe that Erin had gone home (also hid her car) Jodie then stole her identity to extort money from Nate's mother for the baby and set up her old friends through a combination of jealousy and spite. She faked her own rape to set up Connor.
The excellent ending is a shoot-out and our hero Tom being shot (but survives)
I think I had 3 or 4 different guesses at the reveal (including the one it actually was) but it was cleverly written to keep me changing my mind.
Spoilers ahead, I like to summarise the plot for my own reference.
15 years ago 6 x 18-year-old friends venture to their favorite outdoor spot to play a game of 'Badger' before they all head off to uni etc. The friends are Nate, Mallory, Taya, Akin, Connor, and Jodie. A girl called Erin follows them (she is obsessed with Nate) and the friends are annoyed that she has become part of their last night. They trick Jodie into hiding as the Badger to get rid of her but when she doesn't return they go to look for her. They don't find her and her car has disappeared so they think she has left.
15 years later, they're not a group of friends anymore and have pretty much all gone their separate ways except for Nate and Mallory who are now a couple. Mallory is the only one to have a first-person narrative. Each of the 6 becomes wrapped up in a crime either as a victim or accused.
Nate - accused of sexual assault by a junior in his law firm (Gabi)
Mallory - set up and accused of Gabi's murder
Taya - her baby is kidnapped and then returned to her the child is holding a badger teddy bear
Akin - caught on CCTV leaving money for Gabi (the police believe is bribe money)
Jodie - Is raped
Connor - is accused of the rape as his hat was at the scene of the crime
The twist - Jodie had killed Erin when they were teenagers as Erin told her she was pregnant with Nate's child. Jodie was also in love with Nate so in frustration pushed Erin and accidentally killed her, hiding her body in the lake. She doesn't tell the others and lets them believe that Erin had gone home (also hid her car) Jodie then stole her identity to extort money from Nate's mother for the baby and set up her old friends through a combination of jealousy and spite. She faked her own rape to set up Connor.
The excellent ending is a shoot-out and our hero Tom being shot (but survives)
rmunch93's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
5.0
annabelcaskey's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
kerrykennedyauthor's review
5.0
Gripping crime from the first paragraph
First book by this author and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Good fast pace, exciting from page one to the end
When a young man is accused of sexual harassment his whole life and his wife's is turned upside down.
Sinister events of crime take place all centering around them and four friends from fifteen years ago. The accuser is then found murdered.
Brilliant end twist. Highly recommended
Kerry Kennedy Author
First book by this author and thoroughly enjoyed it.
Good fast pace, exciting from page one to the end
When a young man is accused of sexual harassment his whole life and his wife's is turned upside down.
Sinister events of crime take place all centering around them and four friends from fifteen years ago. The accuser is then found murdered.
Brilliant end twist. Highly recommended
Kerry Kennedy Author
kaz_in_books's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
savijax's review
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gun violence, Murder, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Sexual harassment
Minor: Rape
kikiweinert's review
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- 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