What a great listen. So many layers, twists & turns. I loved how interesting and entertaining the world building was – the townspeople, the history, interpersonal relationships. Shelby, as the central character, is a flawed and complex person. Small town life is impervious to “that would never happen in real life” which allows Freeman a great deal of latitude in the investigative process as well as the experiences of his characters. (Having grown up in a small town, I can assure you they are actually very realistic.) This is in some ways a drama as much as a police case.

The problem with reviews for mystery/thrillers is that I don’t want to spoil anything for anyone but still want to convey what an enjoyable listen this was. I can say that I was enthralled from beginning to end.

Narration:
This was my first time listening to January LaVoy and she has rocketed up my list of narrators to listen to more of. Voices, personalities, and all the emotions. I was so easy to get completely absorbed into the story. Perfection.

Content Warnings (possible spoilers):

Spoiler

death of a child, dementia of main character, orphan, alcoholism, infidelity