Quick Stats
Overall: 4.5 stars
Characters:5/5
Plot:5/5
Setting:5/5
Writing:5/5

First things first, you’re probably looking at those stats and thinking… Kaley, how does all five out of five add up to 4.5 stars? The answer is… I don’t know. Five stars isn’t a statistical rating; it’s a feeling, and though I loved this book, it just didn’t quite feel five stars.
That’s not to say I don’t love the book. I very much do. This is only my second ever JLB mystery/thriller, but I can definitely see why she—and this book—are so popular. Wow.
Every single character was unique, amazingly written, and likeable. Even the characters I hated—I somehow liked them at the same time. The mystery was twisty, confusing, and enticing. I had no idea what was coming next at any given point, but I was fully invested in watching it unfold. The backdrop of Hawthorne House was interesting. Very gauche. I quite enjoyed the descriptions of lush wealth and the overall puzzle of the house.
This book was such a fun, intriguing read. I highly recommend it to fans of Knives Out and anyone who liked 39 Clues as a child.