Rowan Gallagher is a devoted single mother and a talented architect with a high-profile commission restoring an historic mansion for the most powerful family in Maine. But inside, she’s a mess. She knows that stalking her ex’s avatar all over Portland on her phone isn’t the healthiest way to heal from their breakup. But she’s out of ice cream and she’s sick of romcoms.
Watching his every move is both fascinating and infuriating. He’s dining out while she’s wallowing on the couch. The last straw comes when he parks in their favorite spot on the waterfront. In a weak moment, she leashes the dog and sets off to see who else is in his car.
Instead of catching her ex in a kiss, Rowan becomes the first witness to his murder—and the primary suspect.
But Rowan isn’t the only one keeping secrets. As she digs for the truth, she discovers the dead man was stalking her too, gathering intimate details about her job and her past.
Struggling to clear her name, Rowan finds herself spiraling into the shadowy plot that killed him.
Will she be the next to die?
Review
I was a bit hesitant to start this one, but I ended up flying through it in less than 24 hours. Once I got hooked on the story, I simply couldn’t put it down. Told from three alternating points of view—with Rowan as the central voice—the narrative pulled me in fast. Rowan accidentally witnesses the murder of her recent ex, Tim, and quickly becomes entangled in the investigation surrounding his death.
I really enjoyed the shifting POVs; they added an extra layer of depth and kept the suspense building. It was the constant sense of mystery that kept me turning the pages—I had to uncover all the little secrets surrounding Tim’s death.
The setting was another highlight for me. The big, old mansion steeped in horrific history gave the whole story an eerie, atmospheric quality. At times, it felt like I was watching a TV show—I could vividly picture every detail, which made the creepy vibe all the more immersive.
Overall, I was satisfied with how it all wrapped up. I didn’t figure out who the killer was until the very last moment, which I loved. While I think I slightly preferred The Five Year Lie, this was definitely an entertaining read that I’d recommend.
My Rating: 4/5 🌟🌟🌟🌟
About the Author
Sarina Bowen is a #1 Amazon bestselling author and a 25-time USA Today bestseller. Her books have appeared on “best of” lists from The New York Public Library, Barnes & Noble, Audible, Elle Magazine, Goodreads and Lit Hub.
Formerly a derivatives trader on Wall Street, Sarina graduated magna cum laude from Yale University with a BA in economics.
A New Englander whose Vermont ancestors cut timber and farmed the north country in the 1760s, Sarina is grateful for the invention of indoor plumbing and wi-fi during the intervening 250 years. She lives with her family on a few wooded acres in New Hampshire.
Sarina’s books are published in 20+ languages with more than two dozen publishers.
She is a sitting council member on the Authors Guild, where she chairs the advocacy committee. She is also a member of Authors Against Book Bans.
*I received an ARC of this book from Publisher/Author in exchange for an honest, voluntary review
