A review by minimicropup
After Image by JAIME. DEBLANC

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

This started off so good. The last half and end did not work for me. It felt like someone was like, ‘Needs More Action Thrills’ and tried to work it into the plot at the last minute. 😅
 
Energy: Frustrated. Moody. Impatient. 
 
🐺 Growls
Situations seeming orchestrated for action-suspense knocked me completely out of the story. MC mucks things up constantly but stumbles into answers through ‘mind-reading’/incredible luck. Contradictory inner monologue with unbelievable main character decisions. Plotholes, rushed ending. Convoluted, unresolved ending left too much unanswered.  
 
🐕 Howls
Main character doesn’t learn, has no survival instincts, and interferes too much with the police investigation in a way that is both frustrating and boring. Unconvincing romance and dialogue. 
 
🐩 Tail Wags
Being hooked on the story for most of the book. The plot premise (until the end). Learning about the backstories and circumstances leading up to Allie’s disappearance. The complex sister bonds. The realistic obstacles to amateur sleuthing attempts (at first). The flashbacks timeline and family dynamics. 
 
Scene: 🇺🇸 North Hollywood and surrounding area, California.
Perspective: Our main character was enamored by their stepsister’s parents – a famous director and actress, and the stepsisters formed a close bond growing up. Then in college, their stepsister went missing under mysterious circumstances. 
Timeline: Current. Recent past 2012 to 2014 when the characters were in College together. 2007 when our MC first met their stepsister. 
🔥 Fuel: Cliffhangers. Layered secrets. Not all is as it seems. Did Allie voluntarily disappear or was she a victim? What happened to her? Why? 
📖 Cred: Starts off true crime style realism. Ends far-fetched over the top. 
 
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Disinfectant. Body odour. Nikon SLR. Diners. Apple pie. Police station. House parties. Vodka. Expensive perfume. 
  • Haunted by the past missing sibling mystery
  • Blended family drama and dysfunction
  • How ‘missing or murdered’ cases affect family
  • True crime-ish contemporary fiction
  • Complex sisterhood
  • Amateur sleuthing bad-at-it-but-still-get-results
  • Hidden in plain sight slow burn to action suspense
  • Narratives where reader is the listener/tag-along
  • Will they or won’t they romance
  • Red herrings
  • Tragic friendship, odd couple beta hero romances
 
Content Heads-Up: Alcohol, drug use (partying, addiction, intoxicated, self-medicating). Vomit. Conversion disorder (blindness). Sobriety. Loss of parent. Loss of sibling. Suicide attempt, suicidal ideation (recall). Homophobia (parental rejection). Incest, pedophilia, grooming, child sex abuse and exploitation (recall). 
 
Rep: Hispanic and White American. Cisgender. Hetero. Gay. Conversion disorder.
 
📚 Format: Advance Reader’s Copy from Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley
 
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