A review by judithdcollins
I Did It For You by Amy Engel

4.0

Amy Engel returns following [b:The Familiar Dark|52659062|The Familiar Dark|Amy Engel|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1566831575l/52659062._SX50_SY75_.jpg|69295658] and [b:The Roanoke Girls|33015034|The Roanoke Girls|Amy Engel|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1479589097l/33015034._SY75_.jpg|51235136] with her latest, I DID IT FOR YOU, a gripping tale exploring guilt, loss, trauma, and the many ways in which a violent murder transforms the family of the victims and the killer's family.

Greer Dunning returns to her rural hometown of Ludlow, Kansas, from Chicago after the execution of the man, Roy Matthews, who murdered her sister, Eliza, and her boyfriend, Travis, fourteen years ago while making out in a car.

Despite a clear motive, Roy was convicted and executed. Greer, the younger sister, was not satisfied with the original investigation.

Now it appears there is a copycat killer. Two teens, Addy and Dylan, have been murdered, similar to her sister's murder. Is someone trying to lure her back to town?

Greer returns determined to solve this mystery—her family was devasted, and they were not there for her due to their grief.

Set in a rural small town, a story of a sixteen old Greer trying to run away, and now the truth has to come out. She is now getting close to the brother of her sister's murderer, Dean. From family members, friends, and enemies, we revisit the past and present.

Told from the POV of Greer, secrets are unraveled in this slow burn character-driven mystery exploring fear, shame, guilt, trauma, loss, forgiveness, and the many ways it affects everyone close to the victims and the murder's family.

While I would not classify this as a thriller, it is a well-written raw, emotionally—engrossing heart-breaking crime psychological suspense mystery of small-town darkness, focusing on Greer's grief and struggles.

Thanks to #PenguinGroup and #NetGalley for an advanced reading copy for an honest review.

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@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: July 25, 2023
My Rating: 4 Stars
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