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spearly's review
mysterious
tense
fast-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? It's complicated
4.0
“Maybe I thought it’s what she would have wanted. Maybe I was trying to make things right.”
“Make things right?” The detective repeats Anna’s words back to her.
“In some small way. After what I’d done. It was an accident, but … I killed Zoe Spanos."
What a trip. Anna was a great unreliable narrator, and the whole novel I was trying to parse out what was true and what wasn't. How did this girl, who comes to Herron Mills for a summer job, end up confessing to the murder of a girl who went missing months prior from a town she's never been to? How could we possibly get from point A to point B?
The back and forth timelines worked really well, though I'm not sure how much it was necessary. Part of me thinks that, after the first "Present Day" chapter, the whole story could have been told as "Then" until the timelines meets up with chapter 1. Still, The voices were very distinct (it helped that all the present day chapters were told in 3rd person and all the past chapters were told in 1st person). I understood the appeal of having some perspectives, particularly Martina's, following the case in the present day, trying to work through all the nonsensical of Anna's "Then" chapters.
This book reminded me of We Were Liars but with more enjoyable prose. We think we know where things are going until we don't. What happened on New Years Eve? Where is Zoe Spanos? Who is Anna, who looks uncannily like the missing girl? Why isn't Zoe's longtime boyfriend being completely honest with the police? Where is the missing boat from the dock? Why does Anna have memories of Harron Mills when she's never been here before taking the job?
These questions are all answered, of course, but it's a fun ride trying to figure it all out on our own. I'll admit, I wasn't even close (which is super fun, as the last few mystery/thrillers I've read, I've managed to guess the plot twist). While I did have to suspend my disbelief a bit (or perhaps I just don't know enough about how repressed / childhood memories can present themselves to teenagers), the ending was very satisfying. Even when you think things are all wrapped up, we get that delicious last chapter.
I ployed through this. The plot kept me guessing, the characters were simultaneously shady and charming, I could never tell when people were being honest, and I wanted to retain every small detail I could in case it ended up being important later. Frick did a great job blending a character driven and plot driven novel, providing readers just enough to make us think we knew where things were going.
Who Killed Zoe Spanos? You've gotta read to find out!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Murder, and Grief
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis
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