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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diabolically twisty ... but in such a down-to-earth way! Sarina Bowen is turning on the angst and is sure to delight her mystery fans with Rowan Gallagher's story. We get a very natural connection with the storyline and characters before things begin to take a turn and we are thrust into a mystery we don't see coming. I really enjoyed Rowan and her story. She's easy to like, her peril is well-developed and we get a story of family in addition to the mystery going on in the forefront. Loved every minute!
I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a whodunnit with lots of twists with likable characters and bits of family along the way.
medium-paced
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
I received this as an ARC. When it arrived, I read the blurb and wondered why I'd requested it. Feeling guilty for entering to receive a book I now wasn't interested in, I decided to go ahead and read it rather than putting it off. Imagine my surprise at how much I enjoyed this book! It's well written and a quick read. I'd call it a cozy thriller, with a touch of romance. I had a hard time putting it down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Child death, Sexual harassment
How can this author write some of the best hockey romances AND solid thrillers?! Peoples talents truly amaze me 𤊠I love the premise here, a single mom is dating a guy and out of nowhere he dumps her via text. Rude. He forgot to turn his location off (very The Black Dog coded iykyk) and she decides to see what heâs up to and turns out heâs dead. Now sheâs a suspect and thatâs pretty much all you need to know. I liked Rowanâs character and found her easy to empathize with, she came across as intelligent and just wanted to clear her name and find out who killed her ex. Her relationship with her teenaged daughter read as authentic too so the characterization was on point for me as well. The story itself def kept my attention and went in unexpected directions. I did figure out whodunnit ahead of time but it was still a fun ride. This was a pretty slow burn with action in the last quarter that picked up the pacing but overall a solid thriller that I enjoyed.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
SYNOPSIS
-Rowan Gallagher is a single mom and talented architect working on restoring a historic mansion for a super powerful family in Maine.
-Still reeling from a breakup, she makes the very bad decision to stalk her exâs location on her phone. One night, she gives in to temptation and goes to check out where heâs parked⌠and finds him dead in his car.
-Now, Rowanâs not just heartbrokenâsheâs the prime suspect in a murder investigation.
-As she fights to clear her name, Rowan realizes Tim wasnât who he said he was⌠and he wasnât the only one keeping secrets.
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MY THOUGHTS
-I loved the multiple POVs â it made the story feel so layered and kept the tension cranked up the whole time.
-Rowan was such a great MC. Smart, tough, a little bit messy (in the best way), and fiercely protective of her daughter.
-The Belgian Malinois stole my heart. Truly the goodest boy.
-The plotting was expert â it felt like every little breadcrumb along the way mattered, and everything clicked into place by the end.
-So many good twists. It built tension so well without feeling gimmicky.
-Totally engrossing. I kept telling myself âjust one more chapterâ and then flying through five.
-The pacing was perfect â not rushed, but never dragging. Every chapter added something important.
-The ending was so satisfying. Nothing felt forgotten or thrown in at the last minute. Everything tied together seamlessly.
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TL;DR: âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸everything I love in a mystery â smart, fast-paced, perfectly plotted, and full of heart. I couldnât put it down.
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THANKS: Thanks to Harper Perennial and Paperbacks and Netgalley for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on May 13, 2025.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Blood, Vomit, Pregnancy