Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow and Goodreads Giveaway for gifting me both a digital and physical ARC of the latest thriller by Laura Lippman - 5 stars! I'm a huge fan of Lippman's books but I think this is my favorite so far - definitely a must read!
In 1997, Amber convinced Joe to take her to the prom. Joe was popular and a year ahead of Amber in school, who was smart but not popular. Joe's mom hired Amber to tutor him in French and they began a secret relationship. Prom night ends horribly, with Amber accused of killing her newborn baby in a hotel room, where Joe never bothered to check in on her, instead going off with another girl. In 1999, Amber has reinvented herself in New Orleans, and is successful in curating art exhibits. Circumstances bring her back to her hometown of Baltimore, and she decides to open a gallery there. But Joe and Amber can't stay away from each other, even though Joe is happily married.
I loved this book and the slow burn, character-building tension that leads up to the ending you won't see coming. The characters are realistic, deep, and exhibit many different sides, showing that not everything or everyone is black and white. This book also incorporates Covid perfectly as a plot theme, putting the characters into the social and financial issues of that time while treading lightly over the deaths and political issues, showing both the similarities and differences of how people experienced that time. A must read!
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