BookView Review

A lakeside vacation turns horrific when Courtney Gray finds her brother and sister-in-law murdered in the cottage next door. Her teenage niece Reese has vanished; her young nephew sleeps through it all. As police investigate, buried family tensions and the town’s uneasy past surface, tightening suspicion around everyone. With Reese missing and secrets multiplying, Courtney is forced to ask the unthinkable: is Reese a victim—or the one who walked away from the scene?

Kubica favors mood and uncertainty over jump scares, letting distrust creep into even the smallest exchanges. Alternating viewpoints deepen the unease, gently redirecting reader sympathy while probing questions of memory, intent, and reliability. At its core, the story examines youthful mistakes and the long shadow they cast, adding emotional gravity to the mystery. The pacing remains taut without losing psychological nuance, creating a sustained tension that drives the narrative forward. Even when certain clues seem familiar, the closing turns reframe earlier moments in unexpectedly satisfying ways.

Fast-paced, disquieting, and absorbing.

***