This mystery/thriller epistolary novel by the very accomplished Susan Rigetti (seriously, her bio is CRAZY) was a quick, unique read, but, for me, the end (which I kind of predicted based on reviews) didn’t make up for the journey.

The biggest pitfalls for me were that I didn’t emotionally connect with the characters or find them likable. Lora’s character irked me because she just seemed too immature for her age, her actions bothered me, and her diary entries didn’t match her implied gifted writing ability. I know if you’ve read this it must seem silly to say these things, iykyk, but her perspective was 95% of the book, so it still counts for me.

Cat’s character didn’t fare much better for me despite attempts toward the end to provide some empathy for her lifestyle choice, and the text messages between the agents just felt odd and unprofessional.

I recommend this one if you’re fascinated by stories of con artists or are looking for a quick, vacation/beach read. I know a lot of people loved it or really enjoyed it, so I chalk this up to a case of it’s not the book, it’s me.