Dave’s latest novel sets up an enticing premise: two estranged half-siblings are thrown together to unravel the truth behind their father’s mysterious death. But what begins as a promising family drama with a hint of suspense soon loses its way.
The story opens with Nora, a neuroarchitecture expert grieving the loss of both her parents, being approached unexpectedly by her stepbrother Sam. The two haven’t spoken in years, yet Sam urges her to join him in investigating what really happened the night their father, Liam, died at his California estate. What follows is a dual-timeline narrative that alternates between Nora’s present-day search for answers and Liam’s past, revealing hidden aspects of his life that shaped the family’s history.
Nora’s first-person narration paints a picture of a woman caught between grief and curiosity, but the depth of her emotions never quite resonates. Despite her many traits and personal history, she remains oddly distant—a character more defined by her circumstances than by any real interiority. Sam’s presence, while crucial to the plot, is similarly underdeveloped. The strained conversations between the siblings generate more frustration than intrigue, and their interactions feel stilted, preventing any real connection from forming with the reader.
Liam’s chapters, set fifty years earlier, trace his affair with a mysterious woman named Cory. Yet instead of fleshing out his character or adding weight to the mystery, these sections are thin and confusing. The romance lacks passion and urgency, and rather than enhancing the overall tension, it detracts from it, slowing the pace to a crawl. The novel’s central puzzle—what led to Liam’s death—never gains enough complexity to hook readers in. With no clear suspects or compelling revelations, the investigation feels aimless and flat.
The plot’s sluggish pacing and the siblings’ lack of chemistry make it hard to invest in their search for the truth. While there’s a glimmer of excitement with a late twist, it’s not enough to salvage the novel’s broader shortcomings. The book ultimately falls short of its potential, leaving readers with a tepid family mystery that struggles to find its footing.
What could have been a tightly plotted, emotionally charged exploration of family secrets instead reads as a disjointed narrative that never fully comes together. A promising setup, but one that misses the mark.
Publisher : S&S/ Marysue Rucci Books (Sept. 17 2024)
Language : English
Hardcover : 320 pages
ISBN-10 : 1668002930
ISBN-13 : 978-1668002933
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