This was my first Jason Rekulak book, and I was hooked right away. While it’s more of a mystery than a thriller, I was fully pulled into the story. I listened to the audiobook, and although it took a little time to adjust to the narrator’s voice, I ended up really enjoying his performance. He actually reminded me of the actor Michael Douglas, which made it easy to picture Frank, our main character, as someone grounded and familiar.

The first half of the book is slow and leans heavily on setup and backstory, but the second half picks up the pace and brings more tension and suspense. The story includes some profanity and a few mature sexual scenes, though nothing feels overly graphic or gratuitous.

I really liked Frank, our main character. He’s a Gulf War veteran and a longtime UPS driver with a pristine driving record, just a few years away from retirement. He’s also a widower who’s been estranged from his daughter, Maggie, for three years, until she unexpectedly calls to invite him to her wedding. Turns out she’s marrying the son of a billionaire tech mogul, someone in the vein of Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos. When Frank arrives at the exclusive wedding venue, it’s clear something is off. A woman has gone missing, and soon after, another is found dead in the lake. Frank becomes determined to get to the bottom of what’s really happening and to protect his daughter from this powerful, secretive family. 

I love mysteries centered around wealthy families with dark secrets, and this one hit all the right notes. There are a lot of secrets, lies, and betrayals to uncover. I enjoyed the many surprise twists and turns throughout the story. Frank was a great lead – relatable, loyal, and easy to root for. I also enjoyed the side characters, especially his sister Tammy and her foster daughter, Abigail. There are quite a few people to keep track of, but once I had a handle on who was who, it was easy to follow.

Most of the story takes place in July, which makes it feel like the perfect summer read. It’s not packed with non-stop action, but the mystery was so compelling and gripping that I didn’t mind the slow burn. I usually prefer thrillers with a bit more intensity, but this one kept me engaged from start to finish.

I’ll definitely be checking out more from this author, and I highly recommend the audiobook if you enjoy listening. I finished it in just a couple of days and couldn’t stop thinking about it. Definitely recommend!