Review by Booklist Review
A three-part structure keeps readers on their toes as it exposes all sides--his, hers, and theirs--in a sleek takedown plot with a #NotAllMen foundation. In his first-person narration, Cole seems to be the kind of man any woman would want. He's attentive, happy to cater to the needs of his wife, PR rep Mel, as she goes through IVF, and would do anything to be a father. Now that Mel has settled him into a new job in a rural coastal area while she starts divorce proceedings, he is completely flummoxed by the breakdown of their relationship but sees a potential way forward with another new coastal resident, artist Leonora. The reader begins to understand that something is amiss, and as part two begins in Mel's voice, that uneasy feeling is fully confirmed. But this is more than a he-said-she-said; the third act is told in tweets, interviews, artist statements, and texts about the bloody disappearance of two women who were hiking near Cole's cabin. Compelling, unsettling, and nuanced, this will be a fast favorite for fans of dark domestic thrillers.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Library Journal Review
Hall's (Hidden Depths) new thriller is set in the UK. Varying points of view will keep readers enthralled and questioning who the real villains are, while exploring themes of power, gender, and patriarchal norms in relationships, social media influence, and gaslighting. Both Cole Simmonds and Leanora Baxter seem to be running from their pasts. Following the end of his marriage, Cole accepts a job as a wildlife ranger. He's eager to disconnect from his previous life and focus on positivity and his mental health. Soon he meets Lennie, his reclusive artist neighbor, and is charmed by how different she is from his ex. Just as their relationship begins, two young women activists disappear, placing Cole and Lennie in the middle of the police investigation. While evidence appears to implicate Cole in their disappearance, a shift in the narrative reveals there is much more to this story. VERDICT In the vein of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl, this is a psychological thriller that will have readers on the edge of their seats, pushing them to ponder difficult questions.--Linsey Milillo
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Hall interrogates whether a man can be a "good man"--and from whose perspective. Running from his failed marriage, Cole, the narrator, leaves London for England's South Coast, where he takes up animal trapping and tries to get over his ex-wife. Soon, in his somewhat tentative way, he's making gentle moves on his new neighbor, an artist. For her part, Lennie seems to appreciate Cole's companionship, even as she's not ready to sleep with him yet. Then, on New Year's Eve, two young women who've been hiking through the south of England to raise money to help female victims of violence go missing. Their disappearance follows a recent confrontation with Cole, and it soon appears he may be a suspect. This is the first third of Hall's novel; then suddenly she pulls the rug. Part Two offers backstory in the voice of Cole's ex-wife, Mel. By the time Part Three begins, the rug has been pulled once again. In addition to these narrative voices, Hall includes excerpts from Twitter and various news outlets, an artist statement by Lennie, and interview transcripts, so the novel emerges through layers of perspective and interpretation, all pointing to a single question with incredibly complicated optics: Is it enough for a man to be "good" if he still refuses to listen, if he lives comfortably ensconced in the language and power of the patriarchy? Lately, it seems like every thriller wants to weigh in on the post-#MeToo landscape, and the better ones--and Hall's definitely is--find some nuance in the commentary. The only thing that niggles is whether Cole deserves to have a say--the first and longest one, at that--in the novel. There's something ironic about bemoaning the supremacy of the male voice and also offering quite a bit of perspective from the lone male character, but the approach does emphasize the way society's expectations vary wildly for a "good man" versus a "good woman." Could this novel exist without the male voice--or should it? Hard to say, but it's a fascinating read. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
