I’ve seen so many people praising this book, and as per usual, that hype piqued my curiosity enough that I added it to my TBR. When I found it at the library, I couldn’t resist grabbing it. Overall, I really liked the story, but not everything worked for me.

While I liked Daunis and a lot of the side characters, I never truly felt attached to any of the side characters except one, and that one got murdered. I also felt, at times, that the book was a bit too long. There were certainly intense moments, but to be honest, this was the slowest thriller I think I’ve ever read. It could’ve—and probably should’ve—been shorter, at least by a little bit.

Despite that flaw, I do think that Boulley did a brilliant job crafting the mystery. I was able to figure out a couple of things early on in the story, but everything else caught me completely by surprise, especially in the second half. Kudos to her for that.

One thing I quite liked was the romance. I did not at all expect for a thriller to have a fake dating situation, or for the characters involved to so totally steal my heart. Although I wish this subplot’s ending had been different, I realize that it was the best route and applaud Boulley for choosing what’s healthier long-term instead of what’s satisfying in the moment. One part of the ending gave me hope for the potential future of the relationship, so I’m focusing on that.

On that note, I think, in general, that Boulley did a good job writing the relationships in this book, and not just the romantic one. I liked Daunis’ family, and the consistent emphasis on family and community. It was also interesting to read about an indigenous protagonist so involved in her tribe and their practices, as that, if I remember correctly, is a first for me. I haven’t read nearly enough books by or about indigenous people, but I’m hoping to change that in the future.

I think I’ve said all I have to say here. All in all, I’d say the good parts of this book outweigh the bad, and I would definitely recommend it to those who can handle the content. I look forward to seeing what Boulley writes next.

Representation