4.5 ⭐️ rounded to 5

The action starts right away and just keeps going with this thriller. Conspiracy theories, big and small, are no longer the denizen of crazed paranoid tinfoil hat wearing people. There are so many conspiracy theories out there and with the internet, especially the influence of social media, these theories can spread far and wide in real life just as portrayed Gaylin’s novel. But at the core of it, the question is who can you trust? How do you know that people are who they say they are, and aren’t pushing ulterior motives?

It is truly interesting to dive down the rabbit hole of a conspiracy theory. This book was like a deep dive into this world. Truly terrifying how willing people are to not just believe what they are told but will also aggressively push the agenda of the theory. All of the characters had their quirks but most seemed to be true trustworthy friends on the surface level. Dig a little deeper and things start to go nuts.

There are plenty of twists and turns and betrayals throughout, enough to keep you on your toes and to leave you wondering what will happen next. The perspective switches amongst multiple character, which really gives a robust picture of the overall plot. Although there were parts that seemed to push the boundaries of believability, overall this was a terrifying tale because it seemed not to be far off from reality, which is a terrifying thought.

I thought the author did a great job developing characters that were multidimensional and whose actions rang true to their character. The premise was terrifying to anyone with a family, and the feeling of terror was maintained throughout the novel. I listened to the audiobook, and I really enjoyed the narrator’s performance. The ending was not predictable, and there were shocks and surprises all throughout. This was one worth reading!