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rouleau4's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
A good page-turner, but I’m left wondering how it’s possible that Brooke didn’t recognize Lacey or Liam? Too much suspension of disbelief for me there
rachelfsreads's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage and Infertility
suzehint's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
mg_in_md_'s review
4.0
One of the things that I love about this author is her ability to keep me guessing as the plots unfold. Her ability to introduce believable twists and impeccable pacing are second to none. This latest standalone novel certainly delivers on this front and takes things up a notch. In fact, there are so many twists that your head may be spinning by the end! The chapters alternate between a present-day storyline involving an investigative journalist in the Boston area looking into a pharmaceutical company and a storyline that takes place about 15 years prior in Maryland. The Chesapeake Bay plays a starring role in the Maryland-centric storyline, which I really enjoyed as a native Marylander :) I would've described it as the Western Shore, rather than the Eastern Shore, since Anne Arundel County is the locale but that's a small quibble on my part.
Both storylines are presented in alternating chapters from different characters perspectives. The present is told from the perspectives of Ellie (the journalist) and Nora (a pharmaceutical sales rep at the company Ellie is investigating). The past is told from the perspectives of Brooke (the daughter of the family that owns the pharmaceutical company) and Lacey (the daughter-in-law of the same family). Ellie believes that the company is preying on women who are having trouble getting pregnant and are desperate to have a child. Ellie is keen to expose the company and is willing to go as far as possible for the story. Her employer is a new channel that is just a few weeks away from making its debut, placing extra pressure on Ellie to get the story down fast and airtight, The station assigns Meg to help Ellie with the story and it soon becomes clear that Meg has her own reasons for ensuring the story airs as soon as possible.
Many of the characters are not who they seem (this is hinted at in the book's description), which will keep the reader guessing about who they truly are and what their true motivations may be. I did figure out one of the twists fairly early on before it was revealed, but I didn't quite guess the follow-on twists. I was close on one of them, but had a key piece backwards. The author plays fair with the reader and I really appreciated the way the clues were presented and how the story progressed. It was a compelling page-turner from start to finish and definitely kept me on my toes.
This review is based on an advanced reader's edition copy that I received via NetGalley and Forge as part of the author's "super reader" team. Many thanks to Forge for providing me with a sneak peek of the latest standalone novel by this author! It is always a treat to dive into one of her twisty thrillers.
Both storylines are presented in alternating chapters from different characters perspectives. The present is told from the perspectives of Ellie (the journalist) and Nora (a pharmaceutical sales rep at the company Ellie is investigating). The past is told from the perspectives of Brooke (the daughter of the family that owns the pharmaceutical company) and Lacey (the daughter-in-law of the same family). Ellie believes that the company is preying on women who are having trouble getting pregnant and are desperate to have a child. Ellie is keen to expose the company and is willing to go as far as possible for the story. Her employer is a new channel that is just a few weeks away from making its debut, placing extra pressure on Ellie to get the story down fast and airtight, The station assigns Meg to help Ellie with the story and it soon becomes clear that Meg has her own reasons for ensuring the story airs as soon as possible.
Many of the characters are not who they seem (this is hinted at in the book's description), which will keep the reader guessing about who they truly are and what their true motivations may be. I did figure out one of the twists fairly early on before it was revealed, but I didn't quite guess the follow-on twists. I was close on one of them, but had a key piece backwards. The author plays fair with the reader and I really appreciated the way the clues were presented and how the story progressed. It was a compelling page-turner from start to finish and definitely kept me on my toes.
This review is based on an advanced reader's edition copy that I received via NetGalley and Forge as part of the author's "super reader" team. Many thanks to Forge for providing me with a sneak peek of the latest standalone novel by this author! It is always a treat to dive into one of her twisty thrillers.
asumprer's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
judithdcollins's review against another edition
5.0
Review coming!!!! Another winner by the "Queen" of Cat and Mouse Thrillers.
niniwags's review against another edition
5.0
So many twists and turns keep you so totally enthralled in this book.
I couldn't put it down.
Family secrets, lies, betrayals, money, power. It's all there and so much more.
It will keep you on the edge of your seat to find out what happens.
I couldn't put it down.
Family secrets, lies, betrayals, money, power. It's all there and so much more.
It will keep you on the edge of your seat to find out what happens.
owlyreadsalot's review
3.0
2.5 Stars
This novel had me all over the place. It's one that sent me through some crazy loops, then really got twisted, and somehow found it's place back in a somewhat straight line. Yes, this book is that bizarre, and that unbelievable. But, for a good chunk of this, that seemed to work out fine. It just wasn't always the best of settings, or the most fun to get myself through.
There was a lot of are they aren't they? How is that all possible? Why is it so complicated? And where does that leave me as a reader who thought there is just no way. But, again, not that it was all bad, just that it took way too many twisty, windy, bendy, turns to get to the final results. Let's not forget that's what a good thriller/mystery book will have, but at many times in-between it went somewhat off-kilter rather than the latter.
What seems like a book that is following multiple characters, name after name, turns out to be nothing but, with much head scratching I could've done without. Can't leave out though, that the whole premise of an evil pharmaceutical corporation getting ridiculously out of control, is not always so far-fetched. It's what kept me invested, the over-the-top antics of this one company, everything that was behind the madness of these two women linked for all time.
There definitely was a story here that held my attention for a good chunk of the novel. Even, if everything else might have given me a bit of a headache. Well, more than just a bit, because it really started getting me all kinds of irate with how far-fetched the main characters stories were becoming. By that, I mean how they connect in the end and everything that got them there. Like really, I couldn't tell it was you at all... hmm. Still, it got my mid off of things for a bit.
***I received this copy from Forge Books, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
This novel had me all over the place. It's one that sent me through some crazy loops, then really got twisted, and somehow found it's place back in a somewhat straight line. Yes, this book is that bizarre, and that unbelievable. But, for a good chunk of this, that seemed to work out fine. It just wasn't always the best of settings, or the most fun to get myself through.
There was a lot of are they aren't they? How is that all possible? Why is it so complicated? And where does that leave me as a reader who thought there is just no way. But, again, not that it was all bad, just that it took way too many twisty, windy, bendy, turns to get to the final results. Let's not forget that's what a good thriller/mystery book will have, but at many times in-between it went somewhat off-kilter rather than the latter.
What seems like a book that is following multiple characters, name after name, turns out to be nothing but, with much head scratching I could've done without. Can't leave out though, that the whole premise of an evil pharmaceutical corporation getting ridiculously out of control, is not always so far-fetched. It's what kept me invested, the over-the-top antics of this one company, everything that was behind the madness of these two women linked for all time.
There definitely was a story here that held my attention for a good chunk of the novel. Even, if everything else might have given me a bit of a headache. Well, more than just a bit, because it really started getting me all kinds of irate with how far-fetched the main characters stories were becoming. By that, I mean how they connect in the end and everything that got them there. Like really, I couldn't tell it was you at all... hmm. Still, it got my mid off of things for a bit.
***I received this copy from Forge Books, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.***
bookswritingandmore's review
4.0
Strap yourself in for this crazy suspense read. So many twists and turns are coming your way, you will barely be able to keep up.
Ellie is the news anchor at the new channel 11 in Boston. She has started work on a story about a powerful company that helps women with infertility issues. Many things unfold as shes investigating and she never knows whose her ally and whose her foe. She has to be on her toes constantly.
Nora Quinn just got an amazing job at Pharminex as a sales rep. She can hardly wait to start her new job. As Nora begins working, she soon realizes nothing is as it seems and everyone is not necessarily who they claim to be.
Wildly entertaining and suspenseful, this book will have you taking guesses as to how much you know and how much more you can take. Suspense at its absolute finest.
Ellie is the news anchor at the new channel 11 in Boston. She has started work on a story about a powerful company that helps women with infertility issues. Many things unfold as shes investigating and she never knows whose her ally and whose her foe. She has to be on her toes constantly.
Nora Quinn just got an amazing job at Pharminex as a sales rep. She can hardly wait to start her new job. As Nora begins working, she soon realizes nothing is as it seems and everyone is not necessarily who they claim to be.
Wildly entertaining and suspenseful, this book will have you taking guesses as to how much you know and how much more you can take. Suspense at its absolute finest.