The characters in this book are fascinatingly twisted, not just the narrator (Camille) but just about everyone who makes an appearance. I did feel like the plot was somewhat upstaged by all the interpersonal drama, but it actually works surprisingly well. Part of it, I suspect, is just how dark the portrayed relationships are; another part is simply the strength of the writing.

I’ve come to expect the last-minute twist, and this one I did see coming. But the setup wasn’t too overt — perhaps because all the characters are narratively secondary to Camille so you still feel distanced from them, like they’re all suspects; not necessarily a bad thing but different from a lot of books — so it didn’t feel too disappointing. And yes, there are plenty of tropes (“there’s something dangerous...”), but they take on renewed life in this vivid novel.