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A review by mackenzierm
Shell Games by Bonnie Kistler
3.5
3.5 stars.
Kate is a glamorous grande dame in Florida society, as well as a self-made real estate developer and power broker in Florida politics. Julie had a hard time growing up in her mother’s shadow, but she loves her mother and she is thrilled when her mother marries her long-lost high school sweetheart, Charlie. Their storybook romance ends abruptly when, on Kate and Charlie’s wedding night, Kate calls the police in hysterics after Charlie confesses to a decades-old unsolved crime. Charlie says Kate imagines this confession and Julie’s husband Eric says that Kate has dementia. As Julie tries to navigate through this maze of paranoia and mind games, it begins to seem that Eric is keeping secrets in their marriage.
I’ve had my eye on SHELL GAMES and patiently waited for my library to obtain a digital copy. It’s a fast-paced, compelling, and suspenseful read with a plot that’s filled with twists and turns. Each character is suspect in some manner, making each of their actions require a second look. They’re also well-written and realistic, though not wholly likable.
I liked the plot and characters overall, but the ending left me feeling dissatisfied. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is about it that troubled me, maybe it was too abrupt or too ambiguous for my liking? Regardless, this was my first experience with this author’s work but definitely will not be the last!
Kate is a glamorous grande dame in Florida society, as well as a self-made real estate developer and power broker in Florida politics. Julie had a hard time growing up in her mother’s shadow, but she loves her mother and she is thrilled when her mother marries her long-lost high school sweetheart, Charlie. Their storybook romance ends abruptly when, on Kate and Charlie’s wedding night, Kate calls the police in hysterics after Charlie confesses to a decades-old unsolved crime. Charlie says Kate imagines this confession and Julie’s husband Eric says that Kate has dementia. As Julie tries to navigate through this maze of paranoia and mind games, it begins to seem that Eric is keeping secrets in their marriage.
I’ve had my eye on SHELL GAMES and patiently waited for my library to obtain a digital copy. It’s a fast-paced, compelling, and suspenseful read with a plot that’s filled with twists and turns. Each character is suspect in some manner, making each of their actions require a second look. They’re also well-written and realistic, though not wholly likable.
I liked the plot and characters overall, but the ending left me feeling dissatisfied. I can’t quite put my finger on what it is about it that troubled me, maybe it was too abrupt or too ambiguous for my liking? Regardless, this was my first experience with this author’s work but definitely will not be the last!