Many thanks to my partners @celadonbooks and @macmillan.audio for the #gifted copies of this book.  

 

An affluent neighborhood.  A teen party.  One partygoer is found dead the next day.  The other three are thrown into the spotlight.  Secrets and lies muddle the investigation, as do the parents of the teens, whose POVs tell this story.   

 

The plot was intriguing, the drama entertaining, and the pacing was fast.  Yet the characters, while distinct and adeptly executed, were largely unlikable. I finished this one quickly.  But the ending left me OUTRAGED, which unfortunately, sealed the fate of this book for me.  

 

This is a look at power, privilege, and corruption that is sure to make your blood boil, no matter how true to life it might be.  

 

And maybe, while that didn’t work for me, it is actually a sign of masterful execution and messaging. 

 

🎧 Narrated by Cassandra Campbell, I was immediately drawn in to the audiobook.  With a tense and suspenseful portrayal, she made me want to keep reading. But with so many different POVs, I found myself reaching for the physical copy of the book.  I’d recommend partnering the two modes for this read.