A damaged teenager goes missing on Valentine’s Day. Several people saw her that night as they returned home from their dates. It wasn’t that unusual to see her in her favorite black hoodie walking the streets at night. One of them knows what happened.
Lisa Jewell used an interesting approach in getting her point across. The book starts slow and steady and then quickly changes to a fast-paced thriller after the crime occurs. She introduces us to the cast of characters from our own vantage point, much like in our own lives when we observe our neighbors and acquaintances. We never truly know them. It’s impossible to read people’s minds. The real thrilling part of this book is she gives us the chance to do what we can’t in real life. We get a glimpse inside their heads and see that each of them is hiding a part of themselves from everyone. It is only when this crime occurs and people start digging for answers that these things are brought to light that everyone discovered their assumptions were totally wrong.
I thought this was a smart and entertaining book, executed perfectly! It allowed me to indulge in a more character-driven thriller. Not many thriller writers have that ability. I have found Lisa Jewell’s books to be hit or miss. (I did not like the last book, The Family Upstairs.) This one was a sure hit!
Trigger Warning: sexual assault, self harm
(Before and) Afterthoughts 