Stratton is such an amazing storyteller. After reading her first book Not So Perfect Strangers I knew we were in for another amazing book. Although it didn’t top her 1st book for me I still loved the dark suspense she created with this one. I know I’m not the only one who was hoping the painting was haunted. Told from a dual POV between alternating timelines we got a lot of backstory on the artist who originally created the painting which I enjoyed. 

Essie’s timeline was very eerie I knew nothing good would come from her dealing with godmother and her son Elias. Seemed like both Essie and Shanice had a problem with being to trusting with people. As the plot unfolds the pacing was up and down but you could feel the tension and paranoia building within each chapter. 

What made the novel stand out most were the unexpected twists and the acts of betrayal. Blurring the lines between who’s actually good  versus who’s really evil and playing the characters against each other was perfectly executed. Weaving historical, thriller, and gothic fiction together the author created an unforgettable read.