Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster | Atria Books for gifting me a digital ARC of the sophomore book by Jennifer Fawcett. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars rounded up!
In 1993, Ben and Ana go to a party, leaving their daughter, Fiona, at home with grandparents. Their car breaks down and they are picked up by a truck driver who attacks Ben and abducts Ana, who is never seen again. When Eddie, the truck driver, is caught, a mass grave of bodies is discovered in his backyard, but he says he didn't kill Ana. Thirty years later, Ana has never been found and Eddie is on his death bed in prison. Fiona gets a phone call that this may be her last chance to ask him what happened to her mother. Back in town, Fiona is shocked when history repeats itself and another woman is missing after her car broke down. This time, the primary suspect is Jason Ward, Eddie's son.
I loved this author's debut, Beneath the Stairs, and this one was just as wonderful. You need to pay attention to the chapter POV and timeline switches, but they are marked accordingly and easily followed. I loved the way the story unfolded from past to present and from these different voices, to learn all the feelings and reasons behind their behaviors. I was gripped from start to finish, and appreciated the theme exploration of generational trauma, legacy, grief, as well as postpartum issues. This is suspenseful, you won't know who you can trust, and I was holding my breath until the end. I felt for Fiona throughout the book and was cheering her on - loved the ending. Extra points for an author from my local area too!
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