I almost didn't finish this book once it became clear that there would be little to no thrill or suspense. Early on, you basically know the who, what, when, where and why of the main crime in question. However, after I let my original expectations go, it turned out to be a worthwhile, though flawed, read. There were issues with pacing and transitions that gave me a bit of whiplash (but not in a psychological thriller kind of way). The lack of physical description of both people and places made the book feel somewhat flat and surface-level. What I liked most about this book was how the dynamic between Jean and Glen was written.

The author did an excellent job of portraying what coercive control and psychological abuse can actually look like in a marriage. Rather than overtly violent or dominating, Glen's hold over Jean is subtle and insidious. Even so, it doesn't take long to recognize how truly unbalanced the power dynamics are. Glen calls all the shots and regularly makes Jean feel stupid, guilty, and dependent. And the fact that he does this primarily through gentle language and under the guise of looking out for her, really adds to the abuse. Jean felt authentic to me. I didn't agree with her choices but I understand why she did the things she did. She was basically groomed by an older, more experienced man who took advantage of her naïveté. Glen isolated Jean and manufactured a situation in which she is powerless and ill-equipped to face life on her own. This dynamic was upsetting to read about but felt very real.