This is probably a 3.5.

I've been on a mystery kick the last couple weeks, so this book was such a fun and fast-paced read. I really like Johnson's writing! She has an excellent wit (one of the reasons she's a great twitter follow) and this book was peppered with so many funny little jokes and observations. Stevie was a good main character, and frankly it's been overdue to have a heroine who's obsessed with true crime (and true crime podcasts!). Also, she's from Pittsburgh, which is always weird to have characters reference things in your life. Stevie mentions the Carnegie Library system, and I was reading this checked out from that system! (little things that no one but me cares about). The side cast had a lovely wide range of characters, and while I don't think there was a lot of growth in them (except Nate, what a sweetie), I am looking forward to how they grow in the sequels.

The weaving of the Ellingham affair throughout the story was so excellent. It was definitely my favorite part and has me desperate to get my hands on the sequel (I've already got it from the Carnegie Library, thanks once again CLP). The flashbacks had the same vibe as putting on a true crime podcast.

However I found the mystery set in the present lacking. It takes awhile to kick in and the hunt for clues was a little meh. I didn't feel the same amount of tension and danger as I did from the flashbacks. I guess I just didn't find the whodunnit thrilling enough and the cliffhanger ending... while it did make me want to pick up the sequel right away, I was also rather dissatisfied.

I'm not convinced Ellie murdered Hayes? Sure she's acting weird and ran away and is probably involved, but I know there has to be a bigger plot. This is too simple of an answer

It's sort of weird to be thrilled and underwhelmed at the ending?

However I'm definitely continuing on because I have to know what happened to the Ellinghams.