Many thanks to NetGalley, St Martin's Press | Minotaur Books, and Macmillan Audio for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of the latest southern thriller by a favorite, Stacy Willingham, with the audiobook narrated by the star duo of Karissa Vacker and Helen Laser - 4.5 stars!
Twenty-two years ago, Claire Campbell’s older sister, Natalie, disappeared shortly after her eighteenth birthday. Days later, her blood was found in a car, a man was arrested, and the case was swiftly closed. In the decades since, Claire has attempted to forget her traumatic past by moving to the city and climbing the ranks as an investigative journalist... until an unexpected call from her father forces her to come back home and face it all anew. Claire has been estranged with her mother and finds moving back in with her impossible, so she takes on a seasonal job at Galloway Farm, a vineyard close by where her sister last seemed happy. Like a place out of time, Claire settles in but then she stumbles across an old diary written by one of the vineyard's owners. Claire finds herself becoming obsessed over the diary's contents and the feeling that her sister's disappearance may be related.
Somewhat of a slow burn, this book is told from two different perspectives, Claire in the present as well as from Marcia's diary in the past. It's the perfect way to start to uncover all the past secrets and their possible relationship to Natalie. The second half really ramped up and the twists kept coming. It was atmospheric, with the isolated vineyard, touch of cult vibes, and some creepy characters. The audiobook really made the story shine, with the alternating narration by two of the industry's best. Add this to your summer reading list!
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