dnf @ 52%

Some of my thoughts on this novel stem from some misunderstandings I had about the title. I had requested it as I wanted to read more mysteries set in Canada. To be fair, the synopsis did not promise either of those things, however I had mistakenly assumed 'Rocky Mountains' meant the Canadian Rockies, as the author currently lives in B.C, and I will admit that the conflation of mystery and thriller was an error on my part. This is purely a thriller, although I agree with those that would categorize it as more of a family drama.

Alex's chapters were so thoroughly lacking in an understanding of nuance that the only options from the get-go were either 'poorly-executed unreliable narrator' or "badly fleshed out characters', and if I'm being honest, por que no los dos. Her (quite obvious) want to remove children from poor and recovering parents made the (I'll admit to peeking at the end, as I didn't care by this point) twist of her having planting the drugs in the Floyd's home being what I assumed to be the case from the moment they were discovered. Aside from that, I couldn't really see where or why plot points, dialogue or characterization went from A to B other than 'because that's what's written'. The writing was much more of a 'tell' than a 'show', which overall gave it the impression of being a draft, not a finalized novel.

This book was a quick read, but not super enthralling. It was marketed as a suspense/thriller, but was more of a domestic drama that didn't have many twists. I thought it was okay, but not memorable.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Alex and Ruth are sisters who have secrets. I thought this book was going to grab me and keep me hooked but it absolutely did not. Alex works for CPS and works so illegally that right there made me almost stop reading. I couldn't get a connection with any of the characters, they were all unlikeable. Men were weak, other characters were over the top, it was just too much but not enough development of any of them. I thnk the book had so much potential but missed the mark for me. Thanks, Netgalley for the book.

Momma always said, "If you don't have anything good to say, say nothing." Words I try to live by. I must have downloaded this in a moment of weakness as the premise bears no interest for me and the work itself confirmed this in the first chapter. Still, it's far better than anything I could write. My hat is off to all authors for the efforts they put into works, marketing, etc. Good Luck

I did not finish this one, it was not for me, I couldn't relate to the characters, and just did not care for the story.

I absolutely loved this book! It got me hooked right from the beginning and I didn’t want to put it down. I didn’t know which character to believe or which one I was supposed to like that by the time I finished the book, I found out I had picked the wrong character to root for. I really enjoyed getting to read the multiple POV’s and how the characters personalities were developed throughout the story so I would definitely recommend this to all of my thriller lovers!

I was not blown away by this book. I did not really see any aspects of a thriller in this book and found it just to be more or less a family drama. I could not really understand why Ruth went to see her sister after the relationship they had growing up. Her sister Alex seemed ok in the beginning, however quickly became catered to in every aspect of her life. It was completely ridiculous the amount of stuff that she got away with especially in the name of children's services. I could not really understand the men in the book that were supposed to be helping. They seemed flat and did nothing to capture any interest. I would say this book is just ok. Luckily, it was a quick read and will be easily forgettable. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

Nobody ever knows you quite like your sister does.

Told from multiple POV's - Alex and her sister Ruth are reunited after many years apart. Alex - a child welfare officer and Ruth - pregnant and desperate to repair her relationship with her sister.

A story that will keep you guessing. Who is telling the truth and who has something to hide.

3.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐

Special thanks to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Alexandra Van Ness is a child protection social worker living in Moses River, Colorado, with her wealthy and handsome boyfriend, Chase. She has put her past behind her and created a good life for herself, but one day her worst nightmare comes true: her sister Ruth, whom she hasn't seen in 10 years, appears on their doorstep. She's pregnant and running away from an abusive, drug-dealing boyfriend.

Alexandra hasn't told her lover very much about her past and she'd like to keep it that way. And if Ruth expects to stay with her now, that has to be one of the ground rules--no talking about the past. But secrets have a habit of coming to light and just may destroy everything Alex has worked so hard to create.

The girls had a wonderful, happy childhood on a large farm in Harmony, ND, with loving parents. But then one summer, while playing a game the kids called Hurry Home, tragedy struck and the family was never the same.

The story is told by both sisters in alternating chapters but which narrator should the reader trust? The sister who is working a responsible job, looking out for endangered children? Or the sister who has a checkered past of drug usage and bad choices?

I enjoyed this tense psychological drama of family dysfunction filled with lies and deception. I'll look forward to reading more from this author. She and the publisher granted me access to an arc in 2020 via NetGalley. But that was my very bad year of reading during the pandemic and I apologize for the delay in getting the book read. My review now is entirely voluntary and opinions expressed are my own.

Two sisters with a complicated relationship. Alexandra is the one with the perfect life - a job in child protection services, a handsome boyfriend, and a nice home. Ruth is the troubled one, and always seems to drag Alex into her messes. Alex and Ruth haven't been in contact for ten years, but now Ruth is on the run, and she runs to Alex for help.

Told using the alternating points of view of Alex and Ruth. The sisters are both telling their versions of events, and they don't exactly line up. They've got secrets from their pasts, and it effects their current places in life.

Domestic suspense about two estranged sisters. This novel is a slow burn that is heavy on family drama. Recommended for readers who enjoy family drama and unreliable narrators.

I received a copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review.

This was a well executed thriller that had me on the edge of my seat. I read this over the weekend, but could've most likely read it in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed devouring this novel. I will be keeping my eyes on this author.

More of a slow domestic drama/domestic noir than fast-paced thriller, and I was okay with that.

Alex's sister Ruth suddenly appears at her door after not seeing her for many years. There's a reason for that, Alex has reinvented her life and moved on from her tragic childhood. She has a new life with her loving boyfriend and works as a social worker protecting children from things she herself has tried to forget.

As Ruth forces Alex to face the realities of their shared past, the story jumps back and forth from past to present as more and more secrets are revealed. Told from both perspectives, it becomes increasingly harder to know who is the more reliable narrator, and at times I felt that neither of them were. With a few good twists thrown in, the story eventually culminates and the true sociopath is revealed.

Overall an good read on a theme that's been done before, but despite this, the story was told differently enough that I still enjoyed it.

Thank-you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my advanced reader copy.

Plot: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Characters: ⭐⭐⭐ ½
Mystery: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Writing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great read! Looking forward to reading more from this author! I highly recommend this book and author to all!

I love a good family drama and you throw in some psychological thriller tropes and I am yours. It also doesn't hurt that I really enjoyed Our Little Secret by the author as well. If you are looking for twists and turns from the beginning, you need to tame your expectations. This one is a slow burn but once it ramps up, it will be worth it. I read a lot of thrillers, so I figured it out fairly early, but I kept reading. I was that taken with the story and the drama.

4 stars from me! Well done again to the author.

Fascinating read and I love the story plot and characters. Did however catch the plot twist but was a very good read and kept me interested until the end.would highly recommend this book to others.

Secrets so bad that they are to never be brought up. Sisters Alexandra and Ruth haven’t talked in years. But when Ruth shows up and Alexandra’s house one day, there is one stipulation……..there is no talking about the past. However, when a child goes missing, the sisters end up having to confront the secrets that haunt them. Family drama at its finest. Wild ride!

A great family drama. Roz Nay never disappoints me. Characters that grab your attention, a plot that moves at a good speed and an ending I didn't see coming.

This was an engaging story, though it has that dreaded unreliable narrator. Personally this worked for me, because it wasn't a drunk, or a drug user, just a deranged character.

The story is about two sisters, who are kind of on an outs. The troubled sister, as she is deemed by the all gooder, returns pregnant. Though there's dread with wanting to help, the baby is number one priority.

There's a lot of going back and forth between the sisters and their pasts, and as we learn more about their personal stories, the truths, the secrets, there's a shift of perspective and what you think and like about each sister.

Will this story stick with me? Probably not. But I will recommend this to those that like sister relationships and unreliable narrators.

A compelling read that will keep you guessing until the end. I really loved Roz Nay's character development and writing style. I'm looking forward to reading more books by her!

I enjoyed this one! Although I saw the twist coming I’ll admit I really couldn’t put this book down. It was a page turner! I’ll be looking for more by this author. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.