This is the 2nd or 3rd book I've read by this author.
Her titles are what always grab me.
Gripping mysteries, lots of action, suspense and sometimes a little romance. Always drama. And always predictable. A little TOO predictable.
STORY SUMMARY
Lindsey Nash is a single mom......she is divorced from her ex-husband Andrew. They divorced around the time Sophie was 7 years old. He went to prison for 10 years because he was driving drunk and killed a young woman named Elizabeth. He was also an abusive husband.
It is now 10 years later from the evening Lindsey escaped her home with Sophie to begin a life on her own. She is the owner of a housecleaning company and even has her own clients plus a couple of women who work under her. Sophie is now 17 and a senior in high school, just starting to date a very wealthy boy named Jared. Lindsey has a personal trainer named Marcus who lost a daughter Katie. His wife Kathryn left him years ago. Marcus is interested in Lindsey but Lindsey is dating a man named Greg who is a super sweet package delivery person.
Lindsey has worked hard to overcome her nightmare of a marriage. The emotional and physical abuse has indeed left scars but her first priority has always been to take care of Sophie and never allow Andrew to get to Sophie.
That all changes the day he is released from prison and comes looking for them.
Her boyfriend Greg is threatened, her home is invaded and her daughter is being stalked.
Lindsey is so convinced that it is Andrew playing these mind games. But Sophie has met him in a local coffee shop and says he is a changed person. He attend AA meetings, has a new construction job and seems to be getting his life back in order. He just wants to get to know Sophie. He has agreed to leave Lindsey alone.
Then who poisoned the dog Angus?? Who hit Greg with a truck??
And who wants Lindsey dead?? Is it Andrew? or someone closer to home??
and then Andrew ends up dead. WHAT?? and Lindsey and Sophie end up at a deserted lake house. How??
I won't spoil it for you......
MY THOUGHTS
Sigh. I wanted to love this book. I did like the suspense and fast pace. In fact, it only takes a couple days, if you have free evenings, to read this entire book. The character development is typical of that between a middle class mom and her daughter who have seen their share of domestic violence.
The setting is exquisite with its starkness, winter scenes described, loneliness of an island. Makes me want to visit Vancouver, British Columbia.
The characters become so predictable though and then the plot becomes such that I guessed who the bad guy was before we got to the end of the story.
The author does a good job in directing your thoughts to think it is 1 of 3 people. She gives little clues all throughout the plot. BUT...then I guessed those were people who were TOO predictable...too easy to suspect. And so I guessed it was the other character. And I was correct.
I also was correct in his reason WHY. And that was just a bit too contrived for me.
The story itself is good....really shows what domestic violence does to families and those around them. (It also has the themes of love, forgiveness and obsession).
But...I'd rather be surprised in the end.
In my opinion, this book is appropriate for ages 17 and older (due to some mature content).
On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest, I rate this a 7.
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