This was my first time reading a book by this author. I’d heard good things about her work, but unfortunately, this one didn’t resonate with me. It was extremely dark and gritty, which I could handle, but the subject matter felt unsettling, and I didn’t enjoy it. It leans more toward mystery than thriller, with few suspenseful or thrilling moments. Be sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in, as it deals extensively with various aspects of abuse, which could be disturbing to sensitive readers.

This story started strong, and I was initially invested in the murder mystery, but it quickly became bogged down with too much backstory. If you’re a fan of detailed backstory, you might enjoy it, but it was too much for me. Overall, I didn’t connect with the characters, didn’t care for the plot, and found the ending a bit predictable.

There’s quite a bit of foul language and some moments of wokeness that made me roll my eyes.

I will try this author again with some of her backlist books, but I wouldn’t recommend this particular book.