This book has a very good first few chapters, which had me intrigued, but then I saw it disintegrate into something overly plotted and confusing.

I found this to be very convoluted and totally unbelievable. There were too many characters, embroiled in too many unlikely scenarios.

Though I love mysteries, sometimes I wish that authors would simplify rather than add so much to the story.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Darby Kane is very quickly becoming my new favorite psychological thriller author. I haven't read her other books under her pen name but may have to check them out.

We all have in-laws we can’t stand, but Elisa Wright’s take the cake. She’s sure her brother-in-law is a murderer, his fiancee has disappeared and the wife he had before her is dead. Now he’s taken up with a new woman and Elisa is afraid she’s going to meet the same nasty fate as Josh’s last two lovers. She decides to try to find out what happened to Josh’s fiancee, and uncovers evidence that leads her to believe that not only is other other woman dead, she may be just one of many. But as she gets to know Josh’s new girlfriend, she begins to doubt herself and wonder if a traumatic incident in her past is clouding her judgement. Is Josh really innocent or is she related to a monster?

This book had some twists and turns, but I never felt like it had the tension or suspense of a thriller. The POV felt more like a stream of consciousness than a moving storyline. Everything felt very "surface" and straight to the point which made the story hard to believe and the characters hard to connect with.

A great idea, but poor execution IMO. I couldn't tell if Elisa was truly struggling with mental illness or if she was just an insecure doormat. She went back and forth between standoffish to timid and confused to assured. It was hard to keep up with her (lack of or excess of) emotions and wishy-washy ways. She seemed lost to me and I never felt like she had the moment of clarity that I want for MC's.
(as an aside, the undercover PI - now her story is one I'd like to read! )

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom House for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Holy cow!!! What an amazing book. I read this on vacation and could not put it down. I loved all of the unexpected twists and turns, and when I thought I had it figured out, I didn't! I cannot wait to recommend this book. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy. I am eagerly awaiting the next Darby Kane book!!