Book Review

The End of Getting Lost by Robin Kirman [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: The End of Getting Lost

Author: Robin Kirman

Publisher: Simon Schuster

Publish Date: February 15, 2022

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The End of Getting Lost by Robin Kirman

BOOK BLURB

A young woman and her husband travel around Europe to celebrate their first year of marriage—a year that the woman has no memory of—in this searing novel of intimacy and deceit.

The year is 1996—a time before cell phones, status updates, and location tags—when you could still travel to a remote corner of the world and disappear. This is where we meet Gina and Duncan, a young couple madly in love, traveling around Europe on a romantic adventure. It’s a time both thrilling and dizzying for Gina, whose memories are hazy following a head injury—and the growing sense that the man at her side is keeping secrets from her.

Just what is Duncan hiding and how far will he go to keep their pasts at bay? As the pair hop borders across Europe, their former lives threatening to catch up with them while the truth grows more elusive, we witness how love can lead us astray, and what it means to lose oneself in love


Purchase Links: Amazon


MY REVIEW

In The End of Getting Lost, a married couple, Gina and Duncan, travel around Europe on a romantic adventure. Unfortunately, Gina suffers from amnesia due to a head injury. Gina feels that Duncan is hiding something from her, but she’s not all that forthcoming either.

The End of Getting Lost is told from the alternating viewpoints of Gina and Duncan. It is a domestic mystery of lies and deceit. The story takes place during the 1990s, which I enjoyed. However, I found the characters unlikable, and the story never fully grasped my attention.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Robin Kirman:
  1. The End of Getting Lost
Book Review

The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones [Book Review]

Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.


BOOK INFO

Title: The Guilt Trip

Author: Sandie Jones

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publish Date: August 3, 2021

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

The Guilt Trip by Sandie Jones

BOOK BLURB

They went away as friends.
They came back as suspects.

Rachel and Jack. Paige and Noah. And Will. Five friends who’ve known one another for years. Then along came Ali, Will’s new fiancée.

The three couples travel to Portugal for Ali and Will’s destination wedding. The weekend away at the gorgeous cliff-top villa is a chance to relax and get to know Ali an little better. She seems perfectly nice—and Will seems happy after years of bad choices.

But when Rachel discovers a shocking secret about Ali, everything changes. As the wedding weekend unfolds, the secrets each of them holds begin to spill, and friendships and marriages threaten to unravel.

In Sandie Jones’s explosive new suspense novel, jumping to conclusions can become the difference between life and death.


Purchase Links: Amazon


MY REVIEW

The Guilt Trip is about three couples on a destination wedding trip. Lies and secrets are revealed, threatening the relationships.

Will and Ali are getting married. Rachel is married to Jack, Will’s brother. The other married couple is Paige and Noah, an old friend of Rachel. There are six characters, but the story is told from Rachel’s point of view. The characters are all hiding something, and none are particularly likable.

I’ve read other books by Sandie Jones, and enjoyed them all. The Guilt Trip wasn’t quite as thrilling as I was hoping, but it was still an enjoyable read. Good for fans of dramatic domestic suspense novels.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Sandie Jones:
  1. The Other Woman
  2. The First Mistake
  3. The Half Sister
  4. The Guilt Trip
  5. The Blame Game
Book Review

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: The Good Sister

Author: Sally Hepworth

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Publish Date: April 13, 2021

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth

BOOK BLURB

Sally Hepworth, the author of The Mother-In-Law delivers a knock-out of a novel about the lies that bind two sisters in The Good Sister.

There’s only been one time that Rose couldn’t stop me from doing the wrong thing and that was a mistake that will haunt me for the rest of my life.

Fern Castle works in her local library. She has dinner with her twin sister Rose three nights a week. And she avoids crowds, bright lights and loud noises as much as possible. Fern has a carefully structured life and disrupting her routine can be…dangerous.

When Rose discovers that she cannot get pregnant, Fern sees her chance to pay her sister back for everything Rose has done for her. Fern can have a baby for Rose. She just needs to find a father. Simple.

Fern’s mission will shake the foundations of the life she has carefully built for herself and stir up dark secrets from the past, in this quirky, rich and shocking story of what families keep hidden.


Purchase Links: Amazon


MY REVIEW

The Good Sister is a twisty domestic suspense about sisters. Fern and Rose are fraternal twins with a complicated relationships.

Fern and Rose are in their late twenties. Fern is on the spectrum, and Rose has always been her protector. Fern works at a library and lives a structured life. Rose is married and lives a seemingly perfect life. Rose wants a baby, but she is unable to conceive. Fern decides to help… she will carry a baby for her sister. In this way, she can help the sister who has always helped her. Unfortunately, the sisters had a troubled childhood. As secrets from their past are slowly revealed, things become even more complicated.

The Good Sister is told with alternating points of view, and includes past and present events. Fern’s point of view is in the present, while Rose’s point of view is in the past. Rose’s viewpoint is told using diary entries from their childhood. With the alternating viewpoints, sometimes it’s hard to tell which one is the good sister.

A captivating read for fans of domestic thrillers. The Good Sister combines family drama, mystery, and a little romance.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Sally Hepworth:
  1. The Mother’s Promise
  2. The Family Next Door
  3. The Mother-in-Law
  4. The Good Sister
  5. The Younger Wife
Book Review

The House Uptown by Melissa Ginsburg [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: The House Uptown

Author: Melissa Ginsburg

Publisher: Flatiron Books

Publish Date: March 16, 2021

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

The House Uptown by Melissa Ginsburg

BOOK BLURB

Melissa Ginsburg’s The House Uptown is an emotional coming-of-age novel about a young girl who goes to live with her eccentric grandmother in New Orleans after the death of her mother

Ava, fourteen years old and totally on her own, has still not fully processed her mother’s death when she finds herself on a train heading to New Orleans, to stay with Lane, the grandmother she barely remembers.

Lane is a well-known artist in the New Orleans art scene. She spends most of her days in a pot-smoke haze, sipping iced coffee, and painting, which has been her singular focus for years. Her grip on reality is shaky at best, but her work provides a comfort.

Ava’s arrival unsettles Lane. The girl bears an uncanny resemblance to her daughter, whom she was estranged from before her death. Now her presence is dredging up painful and disturbing memories, which forces Lane to retreat even further into her own mind. As Ava and Lane attempt to find their way and form a bond, the oppressive heat and history of New Orleans bears down on them, forcing a reckoning neither of them are ready for.


Purchase Links: Amazon


MY REVIEW

After her mother’s death, fourteen-year-old Ava moves to New Orleans to live with her grandmother. Ava’s grandmother, Lane, is an eccentric artist suffering from dementia. Ava tries to navigate her new living situation, but Lane is not exactly welcoming.

A slow-paced, character-driven novel. This book combines coming-of-age and family drama with a little suspense. I found this to be an enjoyable read, but can see where other readers may be disappointed in how the book is categorized. It’s more like literary fiction, and readers looking for a true suspense novel should look elsewhere.

Well-drawn characters in an incredible setting. Atmospheric, unique, and intriguing.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review

Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan [Book Review]

Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan

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BOOK INFO

Title: Good Neighbors

Author: Sarah Langan

Publisher: Atria Books

Publish Date: February 2, 2021

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

Good Neighbors by Sarah Langan

BOOK BLURB

Celeste Ng’s enthralling dissection of suburbia meets Shirley Jackson’s creeping dread in this propulsive literary noir, when a sudden tragedy exposes the depths of deception and damage in a Long Island suburb—pitting neighbor against neighbor and putting one family in terrible danger.

Welcome to Maple Street, a picture-perfect slice of suburban Long Island, its residents bound by their children, their work, and their illusion of safety in a rapidly changing world.

But menace skulks beneath the surface of this exclusive enclave, making its residents prone to outrage. When the Wilde family moves in, they trigger their neighbors’ worst fears. Dad Arlo’s a gruff has-been rock star with track marks. Mom Gertie’s got a thick Brooklyn accent, with high heels and tube tops to match. Their weird kids cuss like sailors. They don’t fit with the way Maple Street sees itself.

Though Maple Street’s Queen Bee, Rhea Schroeder—a lonely college professor repressing a dark past—welcomed Gertie and her family at first, relations went south during one spritzer-fueled summer evening, when the new best friends shared too much, too soon. By the time the story opens, the Wildes are outcasts.

As tensions mount, a sinkhole opens in a nearby park, and Rhea’s daughter Shelly falls inside. The search for Shelly brings a shocking accusation against the Wildes. Suddenly, it is one mom’s word against the other’s in a court of public opinion that can end only in blood.

A riveting and ruthless portrayal of American suburbia, Good Neighbors excavates the perils and betrayals of motherhood and friendships and the dangerous clash between social hierarchy, childhood trauma, and fear.


Purchase Links: Amazon


MY REVIEW

A picture perfect neighborhood with successful and happy families. Of course, not everything is as it appears. Dark secrets, lies, and fears are in every household. Complex characters and an intriguing story combine for an enthralling read.

Good Neighbors is a new domestic suspense novel by Sarah Langan. I’ve read horror novels by Langan before, so I was expecting a creepy read… and I wasn’t disappointed. Good Neighbors definitely has a creep factor that makes it a little uncomfortable to read. However, the horror and discomfort is in a psychological way, not in a monster way. Admittedly, I’m a sucker for books set in neighborhoods/households where everything seems perfect, but is more complicated than it appears.

A slow burning novel. Recommended for fans of Little Fires Everywhere and Big Little Lies. Disturbing, contemporary, and compelling.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Sarah Langan:
  1. The Keeper
  2. The Missing
  3. Audrey’s Door
  4. Good Neighbors
Book Review

Hurry Home by Roz Nay [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Hurry Home

Author: Roz Nay

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Publish Date: July 7, 2020

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

Hurry Home by Roz Nay

BOOK BLURB

Close to my heart you’ll be, sisters forever you and me...

Alexandra Van Ness has the perfect life. She lives in an idyllic resort town tucked away in the Rocky Mountains, shares a designer loft with her handsome boyfriend, Chase, and has her dream job working in child protection. Every day, Alex goes above and beyond to save children at risk.

But when her long-lost sister, Ruth, unexpectedly shows up at her door, Alex’s perfect life is upended. Growing up, Ruth was always the troublemaker, pulling Alex into her messes, and this time will be no different. Still, Alex will help Ruth under one condition: we will never, ever, talk about the past. But when trouble befalls a local child, both women are forced to confront the secrets they’ve promised to keep buried.

Utterly engrossing and claustrophobic, Hurry Home is a tantalizing reflection of the chain-and-shackles relationship between sisters that asks: what lines wouldn’t you cross for your own?


Purchase Links: Amazon


MY REVIEW

Two sisters with a complicated relationship. Alexandra is the one with the perfect life – a job in child protection services, a handsome boyfriend, and a nice home. Ruth is the troubled one, and always seems to drag Alex into her messes. Alex and Ruth haven’t been in contact for ten years, but now Ruth is on the run, and she runs to Alex for help.

Told using the alternating points of view of Alex and Ruth. The sisters are both telling their versions of events, and they don’t exactly line up. They’ve got secrets from their pasts, and it effects their current places in life.

Hurry Home is a domestic suspense about two estranged sisters. This novel is a slow burn that is heavy on family drama. Recommended for readers who enjoy family drama and unreliable narrators.

I received a copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Roz Nay:
  1. Our Little Secret
  2. Hurry Home
  3. The Hunted
Book Review

The Dilemma by B.A. Paris [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: The Dilemma

Author: B.A. Paris

Publisher: St. Martin

Publish Date: June 30, 2020

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

The Dilemma by B.A. Paris

BOOK BLURB

Knowing the truth will destroy her. Keeping it secret will destroy him.

It’s Livia’s 40th birthday, and her husband Adam is throwing her the party of a lifetime to make up for the wedding they never had. Everyone she loves will be there, except her daughter Marnie, who’s studying abroad. But Livia is secretly glad Marnie won’t be there.

Livia has recently uncovered a secret about their daughter which, if revealed, will shake the foundation of their family to its core. She needs to tell Adam, but she’s waiting until the party is over so they can have this last happy time together.

Adam, meanwhile, has his own surprise for Livia: he’s arranged for Marnie to secretly fly back for the party. But before Marnie arrives, Adam hears some terrible news. Now he too is faced with a dilemma: Does he share what he’s learned with his wife? Is hiding the truth the same as telling a lie? And how far are Adam and Livia willing to go to protect the ones they love—and give each other a last few hours of happiness?


Purchase Links: Amazon


MY REVIEW

Livia and Adam have been married for years, but they never had the big wedding or other big celebrations. Livia wants a big party for her 40th, and she’s been saving for years to celebrate the night with friends and family. Adam has the perfect gift for his wife – a visit from their daughter, Marnie, who is studying abroad in Hong Kong. Livia knows a secret about Marnie though, and she’s been waiting until after the party to tell Adam. Before the party, Adam learns some terrible news, and now he has something to tell Livia after the party.

Told from the alternating points of view of Livia and Adam. The novel is primarily set in one day, and follows Livia and Adam as they prepare for the party and struggle with the secrets they are keeping. The reader is aware of the secrets, and it’s frustrating to see how they are keeping important information from one another.

I’ve read three other books by B.A. Paris (Behind Closed Doors, The Breakdown, and Bring Me Back), and they were all mysteries and thrillers. This one is not. The reader is aware of the events happening throughout the novel, there is no mystery. It’s a contemporary story about a married couple and the secrets they are keeping.

While I was sometimes frustrated with the characters and their actions, I was drawn into the story and couldn’t put it down. An enjoyable read for fans of contemporary domestic drama. Intense and compelling.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by B.A. Paris:
  1. Behind Closed Doors
  2. The Breakdown
  3. Bring Me Back
  4. The Dilemma
  5. The Therapist
Book Review

The Half Sister by Sandie Jones [Book Review]

Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.


BOOK INFO

Title: The Half Sister

Author: Sandie Jones

Publisher: Minotaur Books

Publish Date: June 16, 2020

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

The Half Sister by Sandie Jones

BOOK BLURB

Meet the half sister, and unravel the ties that blind us.

THE TRUTH

Sisters Kate and Lauren meet for Sunday lunch every week without fail, especially after the loss of their father.

THE LIE

But a knock at the door is about to change everything. A young woman by the name of Jess holds a note with the results of a DNA test, claiming to be their half sister.

THE UNTHINKABLE

As the fallout starts, it’s clear that they are all hiding secrets, and perhaps this family isn’t as perfect as it appears.


Purchase Links: Amazon


MY REVIEW

Two sisters, Lauren and Kate, are visiting their mother when they get some interesting news. A young woman knocks on the door, and claims to be their half-sister. She has proof, a DNA test. The sisters react differently to the news, with one being more welcoming than the other.

Told using alternating points of view of Lauren and Kate. The characters are well-developed, and the different points of view work well for this story. As the story progresses, secrets from the past and present are revealed. It seems the sisters didn’t know one another as well as they thought, and they both have struggles in their lives.

The Half Sister is a great read for fans of domestic suspense with family drama. Fast-paced, entertaining, and clever.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Sandie Jones:
  1. The Other Woman
  2. The First Mistake
  3. The Half Sister
  4. The Guilt Trip
  5. The Blame Game
Book Review

Happy and You Know It by Laura Hankin [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Happy and You Know It

Author: Laura Hankin

Publisher: Berkley

Publish Date: May 19, 2020

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

Happy & You Know It by Laura Hankin

BOOK BLURB

A dark, witty page-turner about a struggling young musician who takes a job singing for a playgroup of overprivileged babies and their effortlessly cool moms, only to find herself pulled into their glamorous lives and dangerous secrets….

 

After her former band shot to superstardom without her, Claire reluctantly agrees to a gig as a playgroup musician for wealthy infants on New York’s Park Avenue. Claire is surprised to discover that she is smitten with her new employers, a welcoming clique of wellness addicts with impossibly shiny hair, who whirl from juice cleanse to overpriced miracle vitamins to spin class with limitless energy.

 

There is perfect hostess Whitney who is on the brink of social-media stardom and just needs to find a way to keep her flawless life from falling apart. Caustically funny, recent stay-at-home mom Amara who is struggling to embrace her new identity. And old money, veteran mom Gwen who never misses an opportunity to dole out parenting advice. But as Claire grows closer to the stylish women who pay her bills, she uncovers secrets and betrayals that no amount of activated charcoal can fix.

 

Filled with humor and shocking twists, Happy and You Know It is a brilliant take on motherhood – exposing it as yet another way for society to pass judgment on women – while also exploring the baffling magnetism of curated social-media lives that are designed to make us feel unworthy. But, ultimately, this dazzling novel celebrates the unlikely bonds that form, and the power that can be unlocked, when a group of very different women is thrown together when each is at her most vulnerable.


Purchase Links: Amazon


MY REVIEW

Claire is in her late twenties and struggling with the loss of her music career. Her former band replaced her just before they hit it big. She still has bills to pay though, so she takes a gig as music leader for a playgroup. As Claire gets to know the moms, she is surprised that she starts to like them. The moms seem to have it all together, but there are secrets under that glossy exterior.

The mom group consists of six women. Whitney is the group leader and has a picture-perfect lifestyle. Amara is the mom struggling with the loss of her career. Gwen is the one with parenting advice. Vicki is the peaceful hippie. Meredith and Ellie are mostly interchangeable and don’t bring much to the group. Claire is the outsider. She’s single, childless, and the group’s new music leader. Claire is not a mom, but she starts to connect with the other women and care about them.

A contemporary novel about motherhood and friendship. Humorous and twisted. There are moments that go deeper and reveal a darker side, but overall, this was fun and light read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review

The Last Affair by Margot Hunt [Book Review]

Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.


BOOK INFO

Title: The Last Affair

Author: Margot Hunt

Publisher: MIRA

Publish Date: November 26, 2019

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

The Last Affair by Margot Hunt

BOOK BLURB

Love may be blind, but obsession’s a real killer.

Nora Holliday is not that kind of woman. Not the kind who has an illicit affair with a married man. But Josh Landon is everything Nora’s alcoholic husband isn’t. And now she and Josh are so infatuated, they can’t stay away from one another.

Abby Landon, Josh’s daughter, is home from college nursing a broken heart. She’s seeking solace, not more scandal, so when she catches her dad kissing Nora, she vows to take the homewrecker down.

And as for Abby’s mother and Josh’s wife, Gwen? To anyone on the outside looking in, the mother of two appears to be living the ideal suburban life.

Until she winds up dead.

The serene seaside town of Shoreham has always been the perfect place to raise a family—not somewhere housewives are brutally murdered. So who killed Gwen Landon, and how many twisted secrets will be exposed as the vindictive plot comes undone?


Purchase Links: Amazon


MY REVIEW

Josh and Nora are having an affair. Josh’s daughter is home from college, and she discovers her father’s secret. Josh’s wife Gwen is living what appears an ideal life, but she is not a happy woman. Family drama and suspense combine to make for a gripping read.

Told with alternating points of view of the women – Nora, Abby, and Gwen. Each woman is behaving differently than her usual self. The characters are well-developed and add a different and intriguing layer to the novel.

The Last Affair is a fantastic book for fans of domestic suspense. This is my third novel to read by Margot Hunt, and each one has delivered an addictive story. The Last Affair combines my favorite elements found in domestic suspense – unlikable characters, family drama, and a twisted plot.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Books by Margot Hunt:
  1. Best Friends Forever
  2. For Better and Worse
  3. The Last Affair
Book Review

A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson [Book Review]

Book Review

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, read my Disclosure Policy.


BOOK INFO

Title: A Nearly Normal Family

Author: M.T. Edvardsson

Publisher: Celadon Books

Publish Date: June 29, 2019

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: na

My Rating: 4/5

A Nearly Normal Family by M.T. Edvardsson

BOOK BLURB

M.T. Edvardsson’s A Nearly Normal Family is a gripping legal thriller that forces the reader to consider: How far would you go to protect the ones you love? In this twisted narrative of love and murder, a horrific crime makes a seemingly normal family question everything they thought they knew about their life—and one another.

Eighteen-year-old Stella Sandell stands accused of the brutal murder of a man almost fifteen years her senior. She is an ordinary teenager from an upstanding local family. What reason could she have to know a shady businessman, let alone to kill him?

Stella’s father, a pastor, and mother, a criminal defense attorney, find their moral compasses tested as they defend their daughter, while struggling to understand why she is a suspect. Told in an unusual three-part structure, A Nearly Normal Family asks the questions: How well do you know your own children? How far would you go to protect them?


Purchase Links: Amazon


MY REVIEW

Stella is an 18-year-old young woman arrested for murder. Her parents, Adam and Ulrika, are shocked to find their daughter accused of murder, and question their decisions about how to help Stella. Stella and her parents have kept secrets from one another, but just how far they will go to protect the ones they love is uncertain.

A Nearly Normal Family is told in three parts: the father (Adam), the daughter (Stella), and the mother (Ulrika). Each part adds more insight to the story, especially since everyone has regrets and secrets. The first part, Adam’s POV, seemed a little slower moving than the other two parts. It was still engaging, and had me wanting to know more about the family. The characters are intriguing and flawed, but not particularly likable.

A Nearly Normal Family is a character driven domestic thriller. Slow-burning, intense, and thought-provoking.

Book Review

Drowning with Others by Linda Keir [Book Review]

Book Review

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BOOK INFO

Title: Drowning with Others

Author: Linda Keir

Publisher: Lake Union

Publish Date: October 1, 2019

Genre: Domestic Suspense

Series: na

My Rating: 3/5

Drowning with Others by Linda Keir

BOOK BLURB

They have the perfect marriage. Did one of them kill to get it?

Prep school sweethearts Ian and Andi Copeland are envied by everyone they know. They have successful businesses, a beautiful house in St. Louis, and their eldest daughter, Cassidy, is following in their footsteps by attending prestigious Glenlake Academy. Then, a submerged car is dredged from the bottom of a swimming hole near the campus. So are the remains of a former writer-in-residence who vanished twenty years ago—during Ian and Andi’s senior year.

When Cassidy’s journalism class begins investigating the death, Ian and Andi’s high school secrets rise to the surface. Each has a troubled link to the man whose arrival and sudden disappearance once set the school on edge. And each had a reason to want him gone. As Cassidy unwittingly edges closer to the truth, unspoken words, locked away for decades, will force Ian and Andi to question what they really know—about themselves, about the past, and about a marriage built on a murderous lie.


Purchase Links: Amazon


MY REVIEW

Ian and Andi Copeland were high school sweethearts at their boarding school. Twenty years later, they are married and their daughter Cassidy is now a senior at that same school. A car is found at the bottom of the local swimming hole with a body in it, and it turns out to be a missing teacher from Ian and Andi’s senior year at school. Cassidy’s class is taking on a class project to investigate what happened. The Copeland family is drawn into the mystery of what happened, and along the way secrets are revealed.

Told from Andi, Ian and Cassidy’s points of view. Journal entries from Andi and Ian’s time at school are used to fill in blanks from their pasts. I enjoyed the way the journal entries were included to further explain the characters and their stories. Andi and Ian broke up for a little while during their senior year, and it seems both of them have secrets from that time in their lives. Cassidy is curious about the submerged car, but she becomes even more curious when she learns things about her parents lives during that time. Well-drawn and likable characters.

Family drama and a murder mystery. The mystery was intriguing, especially since it’s not really clear if their was foul play or if the car ended up in the water from an accident or suicide. As the story continues, it seems any of those scenarios is possible. The family drama includes Ian and Andi’s teenage years and the events currently happening in everyone’s lives.

Drowning with Others is an entertaining read, but I would have enjoyed more suspense. A good read for fans of domestic suspense that enjoy more relationship drama than suspense.