As I was listening to this book, I kept thinking about how relevant it was. It is upfront with you right away that racism is going to be a main conflict in the story, and the events that happen throughout are ones I could picture happening today realistically. I loved the discussion from a main character who was thrust into a position of power against her wishes just to be the token black woman in the office. I won’t ever be able to understand being in that position as a white man, but the uneasiness Ellice felt about being open about herself and how she felt were palpable and made me uneasy with her. I was glad to have a perspective like hers so I could have more empathy for people in her position. It has made me more aware of performative allyship in the workplace.⁠
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Beyond that, I loved Ellice as a character overall. She was guarded in such a realistic way. She was a smart, independent woman. I could relate to how she compartmentalized her life. And her relationship with her brother felt real as well, flawed but loving. I loved how even with the tension between them, she still loved him unconditionally.⁠
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As for the thriller aspect, it definitely kept me engaged and interested in what would come next. I was satisfied.⁠
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I would recommend this to anyone who likes a plot that cleverly weaves in racial/social injustices. In particular, I think anyone who is a fan of When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen would enjoy this as well. I had similar feelings while reading both, even though they aren’t exactly the same genre.⁠