3.5
Harry is heartbroken at the death of his father Bill and has come home to help his step mother, Alice, with the funeral and figure out what to do with his dad’s bookstore. While at his dad’s bookstore he bumps into a mysterious young woman who piques his interest and makes him begin to question some of the things he has been told. He also is hyperaware that Alice, who has always been attractive to him, has been a bit more forward in recent months, setting off some additional questions and feelings. The parallel story is composed of flashbacks from Alice’s childhood and the peculiar relationships she had before she met Bill. The nature of some of the relationships made me feel a bit uncomfy, but the characters were definitely captivating in their own way. Readers will definitely have an idea of what happened to Bill on that fateful walk, but the twists still caught my by surprise and made it difficult to figure out the end game. An easy, finish in one sitting, rainy night, suspense roller coaster perfect with a cup of cocoa.