What a sequel!! This kept me fixated like the first one once the action started picking up. I read the first one a few years ago while teaching English so I kept thinking back to those classes as I read. 

I did pause for a long time about 60% of the way through. I was going to buddy read this with a buddy but she seems to not going to read it for forever. I started in the summer and decided to pause right when

Grant’s murder

happened. Shit was getting good so I told her I’d wait for her but as it came to needing something after Dark Forest, this felt perfect. Sorry, buddy 😅😅

The mystery takes a long time setting up. Breadcrumbs are laid out but come together in a satisfying way. The action, the heist, the mystery was fun to read while also being challenging emotionally. Boulley handles the topic well and with respect. 

The characters are complex like the first book and I’m still excited for the first book’s upcoming adaptation!