An unreliable narrator, multiple misinterpretations and a teenage orphan who may or not be a murdering sociopath combine to make A Flaw in the Design a compulsively readable thriller.

Gil, a college professor, his wife Molly and two daughters have a peaceful life in rural Vermont. Peaceful until Gil’s sister and her husband are killed in a traffic accident. Gil and his sister had been estranged for years after his younger daughter nearly drowned after (maybe) being pushed into a pool by Sharon’s son Matthew. Now Gil is responsible for Matthew, at least until he graduates from high school and goes off to Yale. Matthew moves in.

What happens next depends on who you believe. Is Matthew an evil manipulator who joins Gil’s creative writing class to tease him with essays that are fact disguised as fiction? Who uses his charm to convince Gil’s wife and daughters that he is an innocent victim of tragedy?
Or is Gil nearing a breakdown, raging at his students, following Matthew around town and beyond for no reason? There is a conclusion that provides all the answers. But then there is an epilogue…

This is Nathan Oates’ first novel and what a debut this is! Totally original and written to slowly build suspense, A Flaw in the Design is destined to be a movie. Oates’ descriptions of both characters and locations are so perfect that you can “see” the story as you read it. I look forward to seeing this on the bestseller list and reading whatever Nathan Oates writes next. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House and Nathan Oates for this ARC.

A Flaw in the Design is a psychological thriller that will make you scream as the apparent murderer seems to be constantly getting away with more misdeeds, insulence, and murder making the only wary party seem like a overly suspicious jerk. As the suspense and deceptions build, the clues laid out, an unexpected turn of events and the novel becomes one of my favorites.

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley. This book was great & I couldn’t put it down. Main character was definitely spiraling & I’ll admit it drove me crazy that he was so sure of guilt in his head but didn’t tell his wife or go straight to the detective instead of leaving casual emails and attempting to handle a psycho on his own. Overall though, an excellent read until the end where we are left completely hanging with no resolution. Hope there is a sequel…

Thanks to the publisher & Netgalley. This book was great & I couldn’t put it down. Main character was definitely spiraling & I’ll admit it drove me crazy that he was so sure of guilt in his head but didn’t tell his wife or go straight to the detective instead of leaving casual emails and attempting to handle a psycho on his own. Overall though, an excellent read until the end where we are left completely hanging with no resolution. Hope there is a sequel…