An ominous murder mystery with Greek tragedy adeptly interwoven. 

This was an easy book to get lost in. The short, concise chapters kept the book moving at a perfect pace, and I said “just one more chapter” until I had flown through the book in one sitting. 

Michaelides created the perfect, menacing atmosphere on the Cambridge campus that kept me drawn in and on edge as the murderers were unraveled. He also masterfully utilized Greek tragedy (I mean can anything be more ominous that Greek tragedy?) to deliver an extra punch of foreboding. And as things unfolded, I enjoyed the extra level to the puzzle as it became obvious that while everything was as it seemed, nothing was as it seemed. 

But then, at about the 85% mark, the twist was unveiled, and it just didn’t sit right with me. There wasn’t enough groundwork in place for it to hold true to me. And the loopholes I had overlooked previously became too blaring to ignore any longer. Is it possible to thoroughly enjoy the story while also hating the conclusion? 

The crossovers from The Silent Patient gave an extra layer of drama and intrigue to this novel. I enjoyed tapping back into that same world and seeing connections between these two stories. Michaelides could easily create a third novel with these two intertwined, and I would absolutely be there for it! 

Thank you Alex Michaelides, Celadon Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.