HIS HUSBAND, SEBASTIAN, DISAPPEARED TWO YEARS AGO. JUST AS HIS LIFE IS ON THE UP-SWING, EVERYTHING BEGINS TO SPIRAL OUT OF CONTROL.
As one of the most up-and-coming criminal defense attorneys in St. John's, Newfoundland, Caleb Winters has virtually everything anybody could hope for: incredible friends, a new lover, and nearly perfect record of crushing his foe, Crown Prosecutor Andrew Murphy, in court.
An early morning phone call on the day of his closing submissions dredges up faded memories. Skeletal remains were found north of town and the constabulary believes them to be of his missing husband, Sebastian.
After losing his case in court, Caleb's new lover disappears. He suspects his angry client is responsible for his disappearance, but his pleas with the constabulary only drive them to put Caleb at the top of their suspect list. As the days go by, and the bodies pile up, the constabulary must consider the possibility someone else is behind the mayhem.
With a handful of suspects, all with a motive for wanting to ruin Caleb’s life, will the constables assigned figure out who's accountable for the chaos? Or will Caleb find himself like his friends; departed too soon?
Assessment:
Plot: Brees' plot develops at a steady pace with a slow build to pure chaos. The twists come at a healthy clip that might leave the reader looking over their shoulders with angst.
Prose/Style: The prose is suffused with an increasing amount of tension in paranoia as the story progresses. The motives of characters are subtly hinted at with the sophisticated writing.
Originality: The story on its face appears "been there before", but as the action gets heated, the nuances distinguish this book from contemporaries.
Character Development: The characters presented in the story carry a relatability in their own way. The protagonist, Caleb, is sympathetic and interesting. His circle of friends are distinguished in their caring for him. Their actions render their uniqueness.
Date Submitted: July 12, 2019
