Realistic insight into sociopaths

This would have been a 5 star book if There had been more mystery and more action. Harding laid a wonderful foundation in her characters and their the pasts. A little at a time we find that the past is not always past. With these intricate and complex characters there could have been so much “edge of your seat” storyline – but there isn’t. This is a really hard review to write with out spoilers. So I’m being intentionally vague. If you like to be kept totally in the dark don’t read the rest of this. Sociopathy is a frightening characteristic. In this book the sociopath stays middle of the road and is able to pull off the “acceptability mask” sociopaths wear as it suits them. The author was brave enough to leave the sociopath as unredeemable. Which they are. It would’ve been a cop-out for a happily ever after ending. Contrasting that personality to the flawed character of her friend, who also has secrets that some would consider unforgivable. The big difference is that some people are intentionally evil, and that never changes. The story follows the two women and their families. It’s touching and realistic with the effect on a teenage girl being raised by a narcissistic, sociopathic mother. Harding nails that one on the head. But still, there is no real danger and no reason for the reader to worry for anyone’s life. I’m not saying that all books need to have dangerous intrigue. But this one is a foundation for dangerous intrigue! That said, it was very well written and could evolve with Harding applying her talent toward mystery. There was one part that I absolutely hated, and that was the stereotypical “rich-mommies” and their bitchy attitudes. They made great side-villains, but Harding missed the point that there are many middle of the road people. Not everybody is either good or mean. This was well worth the read, flaws and all!

6 people found this helpful

one of my favorites

when I first started listening I couldn't figure out the true identities of the "now" characters. I kept hearing about DJ and his fascination with Amber (the woman who was involved in his sisters murder) I also wondered if amber was a victim or a sociopath in this case. READER you will soon find out and you'll love every moment of it.

5 people found this helpful

great plot

Wow, what a great story! I wouldn't necessarily call it a thriller but it's got some awesome twists and turns. I could totally relate to each of the characters and several times even found myself feeling compassion for the bad guy. My only complaint is that it took awhile for the story to get going. But I'm so glad I made myself stick through it. It was well worth the wait and the credit!

4 people found this helpful

Enjoyed!

Very good fictional version of a story in the headlines long ago. Great narration and believable characters.

3 people found this helpful

Nicely done thriller/drama

Reminded me of “Big little lies” 👌🏻 not overly wordy and drawn out, keeping you captivated up to the last word.

3 people found this helpful

What a dud. DO.NOT.BUY

Note - I listened to this book on Audible.

...and it was painful to the last. I normally am not the person who questions others positive reviews...but really? Were we reading the same book?

The plot is intriguing enough. The book jacket advertises a dark, suburban thriller about motherly friendship. And can that friendship survive when one of the mothers is a MURDERER?!?! Suspenseful stuff - right?!

And with all modern thrillers these days - the story is told from the perspective of three different characters. This normally allows the story to slow burn. The mystery is revealed in layers, each one revealing a detail until our minds are BLOWN at the thrilling conclusion.

Yeah. No. That’s not this book. It is pretty much a dud from jump.

Frances, whose narrator was horrific and made her sound breathy and desperate for the entire novel, is one of the most annoyingly grating characters ever written. She is the quintessential cliche loner Mom with the special needs child that isn’t understood at a prep school (her kid peed in a bully classmate’s water bottle) - and to top it off - she’s overweight with a hot husband. So we spend an inordinate amount of time at the beginning of the book getting to know how sad, lonely and fat she is. In fact - the author is obsessed with making sure we know if a character is fat. Any time a character isn’t trim or slim or athletic - you’ll know - because she will tell you. And also tell you what they eat to remain that fat.

She begins to make references to her past - which is just one of the many poorly placed and horribly plotted red herrings throughout the book. It’s one thing to weave an intricate mystery. It’s another to plod through a plot with obvious misdirection.

Either way, Frances has one friend at school - the queen bee of Forrester Academy (because of course it’s called Forrester Academy) - Kate Randolph. Kate, we soon learn, moves a lot because of her older husband’s job. So now we have TWO women with a mysterious past?! Which one will be the MURDERER?

Also, it’s almost like someone read “Big Little Lies” and thought they had a chance of riding that wave.

We are then stuck dealing with the story from the perspective of Kate’s teenage daughter Daisy. Every section devoted to her read like some horrible Young Adult fan fiction. Daisy, a queen bee herself, has a sexual rumor started about her, Daisy hates her family, Daisy meets a mysterious, older stranger who buys her pink wine coolers...

...and here comes DJ. He tells the story of his sister’s murder at the hands of Shane Dawson and his abuse victim accomplice, Amber Kunick. And he, too, gets fat - which we are reminded of often. How does he tie into the story?!

Well - the author wants you to believe - and expects you to believe that HE is the mysterious stranger that Daisy meets (we learn about halfway through his name is David - because Daisy doesn’t ask his name until, like, the third time she gets in a car with him. Smart Daisy is not.)

But, in one of the dumbest plot twists - David ends up being the never before mentioned son of Shane Dawson. Like - literally - the last few chapters, they mention David. That’s it. He just leaves town. Daisy is just devastated because she just LOVED this older mysterious man.

So, the author wants us to believe David and DJ are one in the same. But she throws that out the window when she suddenly decides to reveal that DJ got his life together, came out of the closet and his a happily married therapist - and ultimately only matters because he eventually connects with Daisy because her Mom killed his sister.

Kate ends up being the murderous Amber Kunick...a sociopath allegedly - although none of the writing really indicates it.

Guys, really, this book is a poorly written mess - only made worse by the terrible narration.

ALSO - it is like this book was written with a thesaurus app open. So - in order to avoid saying a characters name over again - the author would get creative and it was utterly maddening. For example, if they were discussing someone’s father...

She would first describe him by his name - Jason. Then describe him as Kate’s husband. Then mention him as Kate’s male partner. Or Marcus’s attractive father. Or something like “The Metcalfe patriarch.” The pater familia. It was utterly frustrating.

Don’t.Read.This.Book. You’ll want to rip your eyes out.

Fabulous story!

Great book! Keeps one guessing...well written! Will recommend to my friends.
Interesting story line!

Very good!

Honestly, like nothing I’ve ever read before. It was very well done: good story, good narration, good overall!!

Get this one.

This is my second book by this author. I love how the twists keep coming after you think you have it figured out. She’s definitely worth the listen.

Just OK

It was ok - I have been getting a string of bad books - this one wasn't bad but not great either.