4 stars

Ellie has one creepy connection to a potential serial killer; she looks exactly - and I mean EXACTLY - like one of the victims. This is a scary thought initially, but its perpetual presence in the backdrop of the novel makes the fear surrounding this fact insidious. How could a person ever feel safe or disconnected from these events knowing that their apparent doppleganger was a victim? It's too easy to put yourself in that position, and that's just what Ellie does. Her obsession with this detail leads her to some intense web sleuthing (pun intended here). She also writes a book that results in her being known as a kind of expert on this case and she becomes personally consumed.

As readers get to know more about this case and Ellie, we learn more about Ellie's past, which is full of questions and surprises. Ellie's daughter, Amber, also plays a significant role. She's about the age Ellie was when Ellie had her, and there are a lof of full circle moments that become meaningful and troubling.

One of the highlights for me is that the present and past are equally terrifying. I really enjoyed how these bizarre elements of the past came to light and how they evolved into more solid explanations of present events. The more details we get, the more sinister the vibes throughout.

Readers of horror should expect the presence of challenging topics, and they'll definitely get that here. There are references to rape, sexual assault, child abuse, and psychological abuse among other gritty motifs. This isn't exactly a hopeful tale throughout, but it's not all darkness all the time either.

I've enjoyed several books from this author, and the audio version of this one features Xe Sands, whose characteristic narration really enhances the experience. I recommend the book for fans of the genre and the audio option when and where accessible.