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4.02 AVERAGE
4.02 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
2.5 This just didn't do it for me. Kinda figured it out very early on. We got so much on Rory them beers and boots that when everything started to happen or was over before you knew it.
Wish the story was a bit more than we got.
Wish the story was a bit more than we got.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Dementia, Grief, Alcohol
Minor: Infertility, Miscarriage, Blood, Kidnapping
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you enjoy cold-case thrillers with dark secrets, dual timelines, and smart, unconventional protagonists—this one’s for you.
Forensic reconstructionist Rory Moore usually works quietly behind the scenes, picking apart long-forgotten crimes with an eye for the overlooked. But when her father dies and she takes over his law practice, she stumbles into a case that’s far too personal—and far from cold. Back in 1979, five women vanished in Chicago, their bodies never found. A man dubbed The Thief was convicted of the murder of Angela Mitchell, the woman who tried to unmask him. Now he’s up for parole, and Rory discovers her father was his lawyer.
Donlea gives us not one, but two brilliant, neurodivergent women at the heart of this mystery. Rory and Angela are both on the autism spectrum, and their unique ways of seeing the world add an extra layer of depth to the narrative. Angela’s obsession with the murders in 1979 puts her in danger, while Rory’s investigation in the present forces her to confront buried truths about her father—and herself.
The book shifts between past and present, gradually pulling the threads together into a chilling picture. It’s atmospheric, suspenseful, and often disturbing—but never gratuitously so. I was especially impressed with the respectful, nuanced portrayal of autism and how both women’s strengths become central to the plot.
A compelling, cleverly constructed read that stands out in the crowded field of crime fiction. I’ve already placed a hold on the sequel—Rory Moore is a character I want more of.
#SomeChooseDarkness #CharlieDonlea #ColdCaseMystery #NeurodivergentProtagonist #CrimeThriller #WomenInCrimeFiction #PsychologicalThriller #ForensicMystery #AutismRepresentation #GoodreadsReview #TBR #LibraryReads
Forensic reconstructionist Rory Moore usually works quietly behind the scenes, picking apart long-forgotten crimes with an eye for the overlooked. But when her father dies and she takes over his law practice, she stumbles into a case that’s far too personal—and far from cold. Back in 1979, five women vanished in Chicago, their bodies never found. A man dubbed The Thief was convicted of the murder of Angela Mitchell, the woman who tried to unmask him. Now he’s up for parole, and Rory discovers her father was his lawyer.
Donlea gives us not one, but two brilliant, neurodivergent women at the heart of this mystery. Rory and Angela are both on the autism spectrum, and their unique ways of seeing the world add an extra layer of depth to the narrative. Angela’s obsession with the murders in 1979 puts her in danger, while Rory’s investigation in the present forces her to confront buried truths about her father—and herself.
The book shifts between past and present, gradually pulling the threads together into a chilling picture. It’s atmospheric, suspenseful, and often disturbing—but never gratuitously so. I was especially impressed with the respectful, nuanced portrayal of autism and how both women’s strengths become central to the plot.
A compelling, cleverly constructed read that stands out in the crowded field of crime fiction. I’ve already placed a hold on the sequel—Rory Moore is a character I want more of.
#SomeChooseDarkness #CharlieDonlea #ColdCaseMystery #NeurodivergentProtagonist #CrimeThriller #WomenInCrimeFiction #PsychologicalThriller #ForensicMystery #AutismRepresentation #GoodreadsReview #TBR #LibraryReads