3.5 stars
Trigger Warnings for literally everything.

graphic depictions of torture, rape, murder, and drug use.

This is one of the most disturbing books I've ever read. I don't tend to enjoy books that are graphically violent, and this one was very difficult to get through, but I did find it difficult to put down.

I will say that I found the first half much stronger than the second half. As we were getting around the half-way mark I didn't know how the author was going to stretch the book into another 200 pages. It seemed like we were ramping up for the climax of the story. To be honest, I wish that had been the case. The twist that happens mid-way through is mildly surprising, although I admit I thought it was a possibility, but after that reveal the plot devolves into several scenes that are just repetition of one another. Claire finds out something, then thinks about how unlikely it is for about three pages, then comes to accept it because she's given irrefutable evidence proving it. Then she goes on to the next scene and learns something and is doubtful until she's not anymore and so on and so forth. The pacing was a huge issue I had throughout the second part of the book.

The plot also gets a little convoluted at times, specifically in the second half and there were times I would get a little confused with all of the characters mentioned who aren't really in the book beyond vague mentions of their characters. They're important, but they aren't actually in any scenes in the book, which is a little odd to me.

I liked the scenes between Lydia and Claire, but

once they are separated in the second half of the book

it goes downhill somewhat for me.

This is the second book I've read by this author, and I know she's beloved, but I think the other book I read (The Good Daughter) also only got three stars. I almost gave this book 4 stars, but the dragging second half and anti-climactic ending had me bumping down the rating.