Review by Library Journal Review
In Mullen's second novel (following Please See Us), Callie Hauser returns to her hometown of Pine Lakes, NJ, as chief of police, having given up a higher position as a state police narcotics detective in order to come home and help her best friend Jane (who was severely injured in a recent accident) care for her young daughter. Months after Callie's return to Pine Lakes, an encounter with her estranged mother, Jenna, resurrects the unsolved 1991 murder of an infant and the disappearance of a teen girl believed to be the baby's mother--along with unsettling implications of Jenna's involvement. Mullen's dual-timeline, multi-perspective novel methodically unravels the modern-day consequences of 30-year-old secrets. Callie tries to dismantle a smothering silence that shattered lives and echoed its damage across generations, but as she gets closer to truth, she will discover that some answers come at a devastating cost--including to herself. VERDICT A haunting exploration of how far people will go to feel seen, a searing indictment of a man who exploited the most vulnerable, and a powerful testament to the devastating consequences and the remarkable strength and resilience that follow. This powerful novel will appeal to fans of Allen Eskens, Elle Marr, and Brad Parks.--George Lichman
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