"The Good Teacher" by Brian R. O'Rourke is a captivating modern thriller that follows Nelly, the main character, as she moves from California to the East Coast to accept a teaching position at a middle school. On her first day, Nelly attends a charity race for the school and comes face to face with a man who sexually assaulted her twenty years ago, but he goes by a different name now. The book has a good pace, and switches back and forth between Nelly's past and present, giving readers a clear understanding of what happened to her.

One of the book’s strengths is how it portrays the physical manifestation of trauma in the body. The story is engaging and keeps readers on the edge of their seats. However, more information could have been provided about the relationship between Vanessa and Emmett. Some of their choices were not easily understood. Additionally, some plot elements seemed too convenient, which could have been avoided.

Since the book contains adult themes, I recommend it for mature audiences only. If you enjoy psychological thrillers, crime thrillers, or thrillers in general, you will enjoy reading "The Good Teacher." Overall, I gave this book a four out of five stars because I enjoyed reading it and it kept me engaged until the end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.